California Reptiles & Amphibians
Taricha torosa torosa - Coast Range Newt
Pg. 2 - Breeding, Eggs, & Larvae
(Taricha torosa - California Newt)
Click on a picture for a larger view
A mass of breeding adults underwater in the breeding pond in early March, Contra Costa County |
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| Part of a group of hundreds of adult male newts that were observed during their journey to the breeding pond slowly crawling up the shallow outflow from the overflowing pond. Their bodies had already undergone the change to live an aquatic existence, with smooth skin and flattened tails for swimming. | Male, aquatic breeding phase, with smooth skin and flattened tail, Contra Costa County |
Breeding female swimming underwater, Contra Costa County |
Adult Female in breeding season, Contra Costa County |
Adult Male in breeding season, Contra Costa County |
During the breeding season, adult males develop nuptial pads on the toes to improve their ability to hold onto females during amplexus. Compare to the toes of a breeding female without nuptial pads. |
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Amplexing male (on top) and female |
Amplexing male (on top) and female |
Female laying egg underwater |
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Female grasping onto underwater vegetation preparing to lay eggs |
Female laying egg underwater (while grasping onto another egg sack) |
Breeding newts, Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County © John Gerhard |
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Eggs, close-up |
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Eggs attached to underwater vegetation at the edge of a breeding pond |
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Cluster of eggs attached to underwater vegetation |
Single egg cluster attached to underwater vegetation |
Larva in summer, Alameda County |
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Larva, underwater, in late June |
Larva, underwater, in late July |
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Larva in early August, developing the warty skin and orange coloring typical of adult newts. Still living in water, but showing reduced gills, preceding the transformation to breathing air. The newt is underwater in the left and center pictures. |
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Larva, out of water, 3 days later. The newt is now coming up for air, but still living in water. A tiny bit of the gills remain. The dark band around the neck shows where the skin is shedding. |
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| 2 days later, the newt has just emerged onto land, breathing air. The skin is rough and still retains some of the dark larval markings. | ||
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2 Weeks later, a fully terrestrial but still very tiny newt |
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Breeding Habitat |
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Breeding pond during breeding season, Contra Costa County |
Breeding pond in winter, Contra Costa County |
Breeding pond during dry season, Contra Costa County |
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