SIERRA NEWT Information.

CLASSIFICATIONS. TAXONOMY KINGDOM:animalia PHYLUM:chordata CLASS:amphibia ORDER:cavdata FAMILY-salamandridae (e.g. Newts) GENUS:taricha (e.g. pacific newts) SPECIES: sierrae (e.g. Sierra newt)

 Habitat. The Sierra Newt lives in and around grey pine-blue oak, and ponderosa pine. It mainly stays around faster flowing water for breeding. Elevation of below 6,500 feet.

Anatomy and Reproduction Reproduction takes place in water. It takes 3 years for Sierra Newts to reach maturity. The breeding season is 6-12 weeks. Adults go to breeding streams in January and February. If there is heavy precipitation, breeding wont be until March and April, after the water flow calms down. Streams are usually the place, but ditches or any body of water works as well.

Migration. (A&R Cont.) Migration can take several weeks, and can be long distance. There is a tendency for the newts swimming to their place of birth and breed there as well. 

A&R (Cont.) Males arrive first and stay longer than females. In the water, males transform into their aquatic phase. They get their smooth skin with lightened color during that phase. Their tales enlarge and flatter to help them swim better. Females only develop a smooth skin. Males patrol the edges of the breeding spot waiting for a female to enter. When a female enters, most of the newts go for that one female newt and who ever can hold on for good wins. The male then clutches the female from above and deposits a permatophore a the female picks it up with her cleaen.

A&R (Cont.) Females lay and attach an egg mass to the sides and bottom stones in fast moving water. There's usualy about 7-47 eggs in each egg mass and about 160 total eggs. Incubation varies from 14-52 days depending on the location. 

THREATS The Sierra Newt is threatened by habitat degradation or by humans taking their habitat. Cars sometimes run them over when the newts are going to breeding places, etc. Some fishes that are foreign to the area can be a threat too. 

Appearance/Description Its about 5 to 8 inches long. Slim, burnt orange or red type of color. Behavior You can spot it crossing land in the day time. It breathes through its lungs. It becomes aquatic when time to mate. Moves along with other newts to breeding spots. Often found in moist habitats such as logs, rocks, or animal burrows. It has a poison it releases that repels prey. The poison can kill a human if too much is consumed.  When threatened it shows its orange skin meaning its a warning.  They can live up to 20 years. The larvae is preyed by other newts or animals.

Bibliography http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/136023/0 http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/t.t.sierrae.html#description