Sierra Newt
Taricha sierrae
Silhouette: Neil Kelley · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAmphibia (Amphibians)
- OrderCaudata (Salamanders)
- FamilySalamandridae (True Salamanders and Newts)
- GenusTaricha (Pacific Newts)
- SpeciesTaricha sierrae (Sierra Newt)
About the Sierra Newt
The Sierra newt (Taricha sierrae) is a newt found west of the Sierra Nevada, from Shasta county to Tulare County, in California, Western North America. Its adult length can range from 5 to 8 in (13 to 20 cm). Its skin produces a potent toxin.
Sierra Newts communicates with other through making a clicking noise. The Sierra newt was formerly regarded as a subspecies (Taricha torosa sierrae) of the California newt (Taricha torosa). In 2007 it was determined that the two represent "distinct evolutionary lineages". When looking at the Sierra Newt and California newt they possess different phenotypically. This is seen when looking at the head shape, color pattern, and the fact that patterns of differentiation in these characters are aligned with the genetic clines seen in the two newts.
Sierra newts exist primarily in between the Cascades and Sierra Nevada, up to about 2000m. They prefer less humid climates than the rough-skinned newts. The Sierra newt migrates between aquatic and terrestrial habitats seasonally. Outside the breeding season, the newts are land-dwelling, preferring rock crevices and logs, in habitats such as forests, woodlands, and... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Sierra Newt in Yosemite National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Yosemite National Park
Ensatina
Ensatina eschscholtzii
Mount Lyell Salamander
Hydromantes platycephalus
Gregarious Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps gregarius
Limestone Salamander
Hydromantes brunus
Arboreal Salamander
Aneides lugubris
Hell Hollow Slender Salamander
Batrachoseps diabolicus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Sierra Newt in Yosemite National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Sierra Newt sighting in Yosemite National Park, based on 146 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Sierra Newt in Yosemite National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Sierra Newt in Yosemite National Park in our monthly data.