Rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa)

Physical description

A medium to large-sized, stocky, brown salamander with a rounded snout, rough glandular skin, and a bright orange underside. Aquatic phase males are similar but have smoother skin, enlarged forearms and a laterally flattened tail with a small but distinct tail fin. Adults are 2.4 to 3.5 inches snout to vent length and 4.33 to 7 inches total length.

In comparison, torrent salamanders (Rhyacotriton spp.) differ in having costal grooves, smooth skin, large eyes, white speckling on the sides of the body and the males have squared cloacal lobes. Torrent salamanders are also much smaller (adult 1.8 to 2.2 inches snout to vent length) than rough-skinned newts.

During the breeding season male rough-skinned newts have conspicuously swollen vent lobes while females have only a slight conical swelling around the vent.

Newly transformed juvenile newts resemble terrestrial adults.

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Photo by W.P. Leonard, Copyright

Larvae 

The larvae are pond-type with large gills and a high tail fin. Rough-skinned newts are our only salamander larvae that have eyes on the margins of the head and a snout that narrows in front of the eyes. A faint horizontal stripe is present from the snout through the eye, and one or two distinct rows of white spots occur on the sides. A salmon-colored area is present on the underside of the chest. Metamorphosis takes place when larvae are approximately 1.2 to 2.75 inches in total length.

Eggs 

The rough-skinned newt is one of only three Washington amphibians (includes tiger salamander and long-toed salamander) that lays single eggs, but it is the only one that hides its eggs within vegetation. The ova are small (0.7 inches diameter). The ovum (egg) is tan above and cream below with a thin layer of jelly surrounding the capsule. The jelly retains its shape out of water.

In comparison, tiger salamanders lay similar sized single eggs but attach them to vegetation where the eggs are exposed. Long-toed salamanders have single eggs that are larger (greater than 0.4 inches diameter including gel) with gel that does not hold its shape out of water.

For more details about rough-skinned newt, see the Washington Herp Atlas.

Ecology and life history

Mesic forests are the main terrestrial habitat occupied by this species. Activity in terrestrial habitats occurs primarily when temperatures are moderate and the ground is wet. Activity can be diurnal or nocturnal. Breeding habitats include ponds, wetlands, lakes, road ditches and slow-moving creeks.

At low elevation sites in western Washington, rough-skinned newts are active year-round. Terrestrial forms can be observed migrating in streams and creeks to ponds starting in January.

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Photo by WDFW

Courtship displays and pairs in amplexus are most obvious in March and April at low elevation sites. Newts that occur at higher elevations start breeding soon after snow and ice melt. Eggs are laid soon after mating takes place. Newts are the last of our salamander species to breed and the last salamander larvae to hatch.

When threatened, newts arch the head towards the tail (“unken reflex”). This posture reveals the bright orange coloration of the underside that warns predators of its toxicity. With the exception of the common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), few vertebrate predators can survive ingesting a rough-skinned newt. The highly toxic nature of this species allows them to be one of the few terrestrial salamanders active and conspicuous during the day. The toxin (tetrodotoxin) is produced within the skin, not secreted. Newts can be handled safely but care should be taken with small children prone to putting things in their mouths. After handling any amphibian, one should avoid touching the mucus membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth until hands have been washed.

Geographic range

In Washington, rough-skinned newts occur primarily west of the Cascade Crest in the Pacific Coast, Puget Trough and West Cascades Ecoregions. They also occur east of the Cascade Crest in some areas of the East Cascades Ecoregion.

This map from the Washington Herp Atlas illustrates the distribution of rough-skinned newt in Washington based on records in the WDFW database as of 2016. If you see this species in areas that are not indicated on the map or have more recent observations (less than 10 years), please share your observation using the WDFW wildlife reporting form. 

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For a map of range-wide distribution and conservation status of this species, check out NatureServe Explorer and the International Union for Conservation of Nature Redlist.