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I've been meaning to sit down and make a good post about my sightings of Taricha granulosa, but it's getting close to graduation and I've been swamped. (No pun intended). However, the recent interest in Tarichas have inspired me to make a semi-long post, so please bear with me.
First, I was in a section of Northern California where the snow had not melted. However, the ice cold water (T = 34F) did not deter the amphibians. As you can see, the lake below hadn't even fully melted before the newts came out.
Already, the newts were on the move. From the photo below, you can see by the yellow in the iris that this Taricha was definitely not a rivularis. In addition, the other markings (dark lower eyelid, lack of Y-shaped volmerine teeth, and location) indicated that these were Taricha granulosas. It is interesting to note that the belly colour of the animals in this area had a deeper red than other T. granulosas in the more southern regions.
Here is a closer shot of the belly colour, in contrast to my hands. This is a smaller male who was waiting at the edge of the water for a female.
Despite the temperatures and snow, amplexus was abundant.
In fact, it got out of hand quite often.
Often the newtballs occurred side-by-side in a shallow section of the water. No eggs were spotted.
One interesting trait, described by Petranka, is the "tail curve" of a granulosa versus a torosa while it is in the unken position. I remember this being discussed somewhat earlier this month or last month. I got a shot of a granulosa in the "unken" position. (Go me!)
The newts share this icy environment with frogs and toads. Often, just peeping into the holes, you will find a frog looking back at you.
(Message edited by apples on May 31, 2005)
First, I was in a section of Northern California where the snow had not melted. However, the ice cold water (T = 34F) did not deter the amphibians. As you can see, the lake below hadn't even fully melted before the newts came out.
Already, the newts were on the move. From the photo below, you can see by the yellow in the iris that this Taricha was definitely not a rivularis. In addition, the other markings (dark lower eyelid, lack of Y-shaped volmerine teeth, and location) indicated that these were Taricha granulosas. It is interesting to note that the belly colour of the animals in this area had a deeper red than other T. granulosas in the more southern regions.
Here is a closer shot of the belly colour, in contrast to my hands. This is a smaller male who was waiting at the edge of the water for a female.
Despite the temperatures and snow, amplexus was abundant.
In fact, it got out of hand quite often.
Often the newtballs occurred side-by-side in a shallow section of the water. No eggs were spotted.
One interesting trait, described by Petranka, is the "tail curve" of a granulosa versus a torosa while it is in the unken position. I remember this being discussed somewhat earlier this month or last month. I got a shot of a granulosa in the "unken" position. (Go me!)
The newts share this icy environment with frogs and toads. Often, just peeping into the holes, you will find a frog looking back at you.
(Message edited by apples on May 31, 2005)