A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California

Identifying Species of Pacific Newts - Genus Taricha

Click on a picture for a larger view

Four species of newts of the genus Taricha are found in California. All are similar in appearance. In some areas you can use the range maps to identify the species that occurs in your area: South of Santa Cruz, north of Pt. Arena, in the central part of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and in a few other regions, only one species occurs. In areas where more than one species occur you will need to observe some differences in appearance. In some cases the differences between T. torosa and T. granulosa are so slight that even expert herpetologists have difficulties identifying them by sight.
Differences in Distribution


Rough-skinned Newt Taricha granulosa granulosa	Red-bellied Newt Taricha rivularis	Green: Sierra Newt - Taricha sierrae Red: California Newt - Taricha torosa
Physical Differences in Eye Color and Placement
In areas where more than one species occurs, there are some physical differences that can help you to identify them. The color of the body and the underside is variable and will not help you much with identification, but the color of the eyes and the eyelids and the placement of the eyes on the head should allow you to identify a newt (outside of the southern Sierra Nevada where only range will differentiate the two types of newts found there.)
Eye Color Can Identify T. rivularis
You can easily differentiate a Red-bellied Newt, T. rivularis, from a Coast Range Newt, T. t. torosa, or a Rough-skinned Newt, T. granulosa, by looking at the eyes: the Red-bellied Newt has black eyes with no yellow patches on them.

Red-bellied Newt - Taricha rivularis The eyes are solid black with no yellow	California Newt - Taricha torosa (Same as Sierra Newt -Taricha sierra) The eyes have patches of yellow	Rough-skinned Newt - Taricha granulosa The eyes have patches of yellow
Eye positioning and Eyelid Color Differentiate T. torosa and T. granulosa
When seen from above, the eyes of a Rough-skinned Newt - T. granulosa, do not extend past the margin of the head. The eyes of a California Newt, T. torosa, extend to or past the margin of the head:

The lower eyelids of T. torosa are light in color, while the lower eyelids of T. granulosa are dark.

California Newt - Taricha torosa The lower eyelids are light in color.	Rough-skinned Newt - Taricha granulosa The lower eyelids are dark in color.
Defensive Posturing Can Differentiate T. torosa from T. granulosa
The defensive posture of Rough-skinned Newts - T. granulosa, and California Newts - T. torosa, is similar, but the positioning of the tail is usually different, although not in all areas. T. granulosa usually curls the tail or the tip of the tail, while T. torosa usually does not.

Defensive Rough-skinned Newts - T. granulosa, typically curl the tail.		Defensive California Newts - T. torosa, typically do not curl the tail.
Underside Markings Might Identify T. rivularis
The underside of the Red-bellied Newt - T. rivularis, is reddish, but the underside of the Rough-skinned Newt is also a deep orange color, and withouth seeing both newts together, it can be difficult to tell them apart based on the underside color. Male T. rivularis have a dark band around the tail at the vent which is not present on other Taricha newts and this marking will identify them. The underside of the forelimbs of T. rivularis also have more dark coloring around the elbows than T. torosa. There is also a sharper contrast between the underside color and the body color of the Rough-skinned Newt - T. granulosa, then there is on the California Newt - T. torosa, but this is variable and difficult to observe without having a representative of each species in hand.

Male Red-bellied Newt - T. rivularis	Comparison of the undersides of breeding male newts.
Larvae Can Identify T. torosa
Larvae of T. torosa have a dark horizontal stripe along the sides of the body. Larvae of T. granulosa and T. rivularis do not.

California Newt - Taricha torosa	Rough-skinned Newt - Taricha granulosa	Red-bellied Newt - Taricha rivularis
Eggs Can Differentiate T. torosa from T. granulosa
During the breeding season, typically winter and early spring, you can differentiate some species by their eggs (if you can find them or watch a female laying them.)

T. sierrae eggs are laid in a spherical mass.	T. torosa eggs are laid in a spherical mass.	T. granulosa lays eggs singly.

	T. rivularis lays eggs singly or in a flattened mass.
*Teeth Pattern on Roof of Mouth Can Differentiate T. torosa* from T. granulosa.**
Examination of the tooth pattern on the roof of the mouth will differentiate T. granulosa from T. torosa. The teeth on the roof of the mouth of T. granulosa are usually arranged in a V shape. The teeth on the roof of the mouth of T. torosa are usually arranged in a Y shape.
(Based on a drawing in A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibian,.3rd Edition. Robert C. Stebbins. 2003).

Return to the Top