Our coast has been experiencing a very VERY mild winter this year - our mountains are green, ground is muddy, trees are budding and coats are optional. Today we had a break from the rain, and even some beautiful sunshine, so we headed with friends on a short rainforest walk.
I love that our kids don't just plow through the trail, they stop, look, listen and take note of their surroundings both high and low. Today we spotted some very interesting mushrooms, tons of different mosses, insects and some other cool finds under some old dead logs.
One of my favourite little explorers found these cool egg sacks (?) under a log. They were attached to the underside, fuzzy, squishy and quite large (about the size of a toonie). We're thinking spider eggs? Any ideas?
Alternate name: Redbelly Newt
Family: Salamandridae, Newts
Description Grainy skin, and is brownish black on top with a tomato red underbelly.
Dimensions 14.3-19.4cm. (5 5/8-7 5/8")
Warning The skin secretions of the Newts of the genus Taricha contain toxins similar to those found in pufferfish liver. These are amoung the deadliest natural toxins yet discovered. A healthy adult will die from eating just one Newt. Care should be taken to wash hands thoroughly after handling Newts.
Breeding February. Males arrive at breeding site first. 12 clusters of 6-16 eggs laid March/April under rocks in mountain brooks.
Habitat Mountain streams & brooks.
Range California coastline north of San Francisco.
Discussion Until it has reached sexual maturity juvenile is underground. Moves towards section of stream where they hatched after they surface. Females release a chemical pheromone so males can find them. When it displays its colored belly it signals its poisonous skin. Lives over 15 years.
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