Taricha

Taricha is a genus of semiaquatic salamanders in the family Salamandridae, commonly referred to as newts. They are native to western North America and inhabit a range of moist habitats near streams, ponds, and forested wetlands. The genus includes several species, most notably Taricha granulosa (rough-skinned newt) and Taricha torosa (California newt). Some authorities recognize Taricha rivularis (often called the Olympic or Pacific coast newt) as a distinct species or as a subspecies within Taricha torosa, leading to taxonomic variation among sources. Taricha sierrae (Sierra Nevada newt) is another widely recognized member of the genus.

A defining feature of Taricha species is their rough, granular skin, which is often dark dorsally with a contrasting lighter or brightly colored ventral surface in many populations. They produce potent toxins, primarily tetrodotoxin, in specialized skin glands. The level of toxicity can vary by species, population, and season, and it serves as a powerful deterrent to predators. In regions where predators such as garter snakes have evolved resistance, Taricha toxins remain a notable ecological factor.

Ecology and life cycle: Taricha species typically spend much of the year on land but migrate to aquatic sites to breed in spring. Eggs are laid in water and hatch into aquatic larvae with external gills; after several weeks to months, they metamorphose into terrestrial or semiaquatic juvenile adults. Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates, including insects, worms, and snails. Conservation concerns for Taricha focus on habitat loss, pollution, and climate change, which can affect breeding sites and toxin dynamics.