#taricha

[herpsandbirds]

Red-bellied Newt (Taricha rivularis), family Salamandridae, California, USA

Poisonous.

photographs by Ryan Sikola

[snototter]

A California newt (Taricha torosa) surfaces for air in Contra Castra County, California, USA

by Anton Sorokin

[nuheyenuh]

Rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) considers breakfast

[finsterhund]

it's very hard to pick my favourite thing about the genus taricha but if I had to choose one right now off the top of my head it would be that their status as the most poisonous amphibians in the world is that they don't have a strong fear of humans so if you are swimming in a body of water and just, don't do anything or leave a camera rolling pretty much every species in the genus will get right up in your face like owo

there are numerous videos of this, naturally

here's a collection of some screenshots

"you got games on your phone?"

[birdblues]

Red-bellied Newt

[blackmudpuppy]

Taricha snuggles

[orca-in-disguise]

Critter fact #49:

The genus taricha, which contains 4 species, is highly toxic. They're commonly referred to as pacific newts. Due to their toxicity, these newts have few predators.

[dendroica]

Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa) (via USFWS - Pacific Region)

Photo credit: Peter Pearsall/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service