Description: When full grown, the red-bellied newt measures between 2.75 to 3.5 inches from its nose to its vent, and between 5.5 and 7.5 inches from its nose to its tail. It has grainy skin, and is brownish-black on top with a tomato-red underbelly. The male red-bellied newt often has a dark, broad coloring across the vent, while females do not. Breeding males develop smooth skin and a flattened tail. The red-bellied newt can be distinguished from other coastal newts by its red belly and a lack of yellow in its eyes.
Habitat: This species inhabits mountain streams and rivers in coastal woodlands and redwood forest. When inactive, individuals are found under rocks, logs, other forest debris, and in rodent burrows and subterranean crevices. Adults move from terrestrial habitats to nearby streams and rivers for breeding, wherein eggs are laid on the undersides of rocks. Only areas with flowing water are used, as this species does not appear to utilize ponds or other standing water habitats.
Range: The red-bellied newt is found in California along the coast from Bodega in Sonoma County, inland to Lower Lake, and north to Honeydew, Humboldt County. There is a disjunct population 81 miies south of Sonoma County in the upper watershed of Stevens Creek in the Santa Cruz Mountains that is genetically identical to the Sonoma County population.
Diet: Eats a variety of invertebrates. Larvae most likely eat anything they can fit in their mouth.
Reproduction: Newts begin their lives as aquatic larvae similar to tadpoles, though elongated and with external gills. Once newt larvae mature into their adult form, which takes about four to six months, they will leave the water and live underground until they are ready to breed, which is typically in four to six years. Red-bellied newts can live for 20 to 30 years.
After reaching reproductive maturity, male red-bellied newts start congregating at stream banks as early as January or February. One to three weeks later, the females join them and the newts mate. Red-bellied newts lay their eggs in fast-flowing streams or rocky rivers. The females lay their eggs in about 12 streamlined clusters with six to 16 eggs each, and the eggs are typically attached to the bottoms of rocks, or on branches and roots leaning into the stream. When the adults leave the stream, instead of moving directly uphill, they move at an angle that leads them somewhat upstream. The females, unlike the males, do not breed every year.
Status: Listed as Vulnerable because its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 19,584 km2, it occurs in ten or fewer threat-defined locations, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat.
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Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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