Out for a stroll
This is one of many red-bellied newts (Taricha rivularis) that we encountered on the trails. They seem brave--for good reason. From Wikipedia:
"Red-bellied newts have a brownish-black topside to avoid being noticed. When that fails, and they are seen and disturbed, they pull their heads and tails back to reveal their bright-red undersides. This serves as a warning to potential predators, as red-bellied newts have enough of a neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin, in their skin, eggs, and embryos to potentially kill an adult human, or 1,200 to 2,500 mice. Because red-bellied newts are so poisonous, they are nearly inedible and have no reported predators other than a few species of snake which are resistant to the toxin. Like other newts, red-bellied newts have the ability to regenerate several body parts, including their limbs, eyes, hearts, intestines, upper and lower jaws, and damaged spinal cords."
Vichy Springs, Mendocino County, California
SOOC
DSC_6276
Out for a stroll
This is one of many red-bellied newts (Taricha rivularis) that we encountered on the trails. They seem brave--for good reason. From Wikipedia:
"Red-bellied newts have a brownish-black topside to avoid being noticed. When that fails, and they are seen and disturbed, they pull their heads and tails back to reveal their bright-red undersides. This serves as a warning to potential predators, as red-bellied newts have enough of a neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin, in their skin, eggs, and embryos to potentially kill an adult human, or 1,200 to 2,500 mice. Because red-bellied newts are so poisonous, they are nearly inedible and have no reported predators other than a few species of snake which are resistant to the toxin. Like other newts, red-bellied newts have the ability to regenerate several body parts, including their limbs, eyes, hearts, intestines, upper and lower jaws, and damaged spinal cords."
Vichy Springs, Mendocino County, California
SOOC
DSC_6276