General Distribution
Coast Range newts are known to occur on the Los Padres, Angeles, and Cleveland National Forests. On
the Los Padres National Forest, Coast Range newts occupy a number of drainages along the southern
Monterey coast. These include the upper Carmel River, Big Sur River, Big Creek, Devil's Canyon,
Willow Creek, and San Carpoforo Creek. Many of the occupied streams in San Luis Obispo and Santa
Barbara Counties are immediately adjacent to the coast and off of National Forest System lands.
However, Coast Range newts do occur on the Los Padres National Forest in Lopez Canyon, the East
Fork of Morro Creek, Rincon Creek, and probably the at upper ends of several other streams flowing
from the Santa Ynez Mountains (Stephenson and Calcarone 1999).
Coast Range newt populations become scarcer south of the Santa Clara River (Jennings and Hayes
1994). Outside National Forest System lands, the taxon occurs in at least eight small coastal streams
originating in the Santa Monica Mountains (Gamradt and Kats 1996). On the Angeles National Forest,
Coast Range newts are known to be present in the east and west forks of the San Gabriel River, Bear
Creek, San Dimas Creek, Arroyo Seco, Monrovia Canyon, Big Dalton and Little Dalton Canyons, and
potentially in other small historic drainages (Wales pers. comm.) in the San Gabriel Mountains. There?are historic records from other streams on the coastal side of the San Gabriel Mountains; it is, therefore,
possible that Coast Range newts may still be present in additional drainages. Jennings and Hayes (1994)
mapped one Coast Range newt occurrence in the San Bernardino Mountains, but they did not describe it
and there are no recent sightings in this range (Stephenson and Calcarone 1999).
On the Cleveland National Forest, Coast Range newts occur in a series of parallel drainages on the
coastal side of the Santa Ana Mountains. These drainages include Black Star Canyon, Silverado
Canyon, Trabuco Creek, San Juan Creek, San Mateo Creek, Devil's Canyon, and Tenaja Creek. The
taxon also occurs just outside of the Forest on Camp Pendleton in San Onofre Creek, Santa Margarita
River, and DeLuz Creek. A disjunct population of Coast Range newts occurs in Cedar Creek, Boulder
Creek, and Conejos Creek in the Cuyamaca Mountains on the Cleveland National Forest. Systematics
Coast Range newt is one of two recognized subspecies of California newt (T. torosa). For the two
recognized subspecies of the California newt, there is extensive regional differentiation in coloration,
genetic structure and life history parameters. The two subspecies are geographically isolated from each
other: one occurs in the Coast Range and one in the Sierra Nevada. The subspecies have diverged
moderately in adult morphology, breeding habits, egg size, and larval coloration (Petranka 1998).
Populations in central San Diego County (Boulder and Cedar Creek areas) are genetically and
morphologically distinct from adjacent populations in northern San Diego and Orange Counties. Work
is currently under way to determine if these populations should be elevated to the status of a separate
species (Wake pers. comm.). Habitat Requirements
Coast Range newt is often found in areas where streams and ponds dry up in the summer. During moist
conditions, this species spends a large amount of time on land beneath logs, boards, rocks, and in rodent
burrows, but adults must return to water to breed (Stebbins 1951).
Populations of Coast Range newt in southern California are found in drier habitats, such as oak forests,
chaparral, and rolling grasslands. Coast Range newts are commonly found in or near ditches, ponds,
lakes, and streams; however, a permanent water source is not necessary (Petranka 1998, Stebbins 1951).
Stream-breeding populations typically breed in slow moving or stagnant pools in streams (Petranka
1998). Reproduction
The breeding season of Coast Range newt varies among regional populations and years and may occur
anytime between late December and early May. Timing of breeding depends on local site conditions,?breeding habitats, and seasonal patterns of rainfall. Seasonal peaks in breeding have been observed in
some areas: one peak that is associated with heavy winter rains occurs in ponds in late December to
early January; the other occurs in streams in March, when winter flooding subsides (Twitty 1942). At
any location, the breeding season typically lasts 6–12 weeks (Petranka 1998).
Large breeding congregations of Coast Range newts may form near the mouths of small streams that
empty into ponds and lakes (Twitty 1942). Shortly after mating, females may attach spherical masses of
eggs to stones, roots, twigs, or branches in ponds or in streams (Petranka 1998). Females often lay eggs
in water > 5.9 inches (15 centimeters) deep and sometimes deposit eggs directly on pond bottoms,
unattached to support structures (Mosher and others 1964, Stebbins 1951). Female Coast Range newts
frequently cover the bottom of pond margins or areas where small streams enter ponds or lakes with egg
masses (Twitty 1942). Estimated clutch sizes are 130–160 mature ova (Miller and Robbins 1954). Daily/Seasonal Activity
Terrestrial Coast Range newts are often active during the day, especially during wet weather. Coast
Range Newts are more tolerant of light than other salamanders. Adults are most commonly observed
when seeking breeding areas or upon emergence at the onset of rain in the fall or winter (Stebbins
1951). Juveniles appear to spend a greater amount of time underground or under cover and are rarely
observed above ground in large numbers (Petranka 1998). Terrestrial Coast Range newts spend the
summer in decaying logs, rock crevices, animal burrows, or under bark (Stebbins 1985). Diet and Foraging
Adult Coast Range newts eat earthworms, snails, slugs, sowbugs, and numerous types of insects. Larvae
eat small aquatic organisms and decomposing organic matter that collects on stones, sticks, and weeds
(Stebbins 1951). Predator-Prey Relations
Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) prey on Coast Range newt eggs
and larvae (Gamradt and Kats 1996). Two-striped garter snakes (Thamnophis hammondii) have also
been found to consume newt egg masses (Wales 2003). Like other Taricha species, adult Coast Range
newts, as well as their eggs and embryos, contain a potent neurotoxin that serves as an anti-predator
defense (Mosher and others 1964). Literature Cited
Davis, J.R.; Brattstrom, B.H. 1975. Sounds produced by the California newt, Taricha torosa.
Herpetologica 31: 409–412.
Gamradt, S.C.; Kats, L.B. 1996. The effect of introduced crayfish and mosquitofish on California newts
(Taricha torosa). Conservation Biology 10: 1155–1162.
Jennings, M.R.; Hayes, M.P. 1994. Amphibian and reptile species of special concern in California.
Rancho Cordova, CA: California Department of Fish and Game, Inland Fisheries Division.
Miller, M.R.; Robbins, M.E. 1954. The reproductive cycle in Taricha torosa. Journal of Experimental
Zoology 125: 415–445.
Mosher, H.S.; Fuhrman, F.A.; Buchwald, H.D.; Fischer, H.G. 1964. Tarichatoxin-tetrodotoxin: A potent
neurotoxin. Science 144: 1100–1110.
Petranka, J.W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Washington and London:
Smithsonian Institution and Press.
Stebbins, R.C. 1951. Amphibians of western North America. Berkeley, CA: University of California
Press.
Stebbins, R.C. 1985. A field guide to western amphibians and reptiles. 2d ed. New York: Houghton
Mifflin.
Stephenson, J.R.; Calcarone, G.M. 1999. Southern California mountains and foothills assessment:
Habitat and species conservation issues. General Technical Report PSW- GTR-172. Albany, CA:
Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Twitty, V.C. 1942. The species of California: Triturus. Copeia 1942: 65–76.
Wales Jr., R.N. 2003. Differences between two breeding populations of coast newt (Taricha torosa) in
the San Dimas Experimental Forest. Pomona: California State Polytechnic University. Masters thesis.
Information gathered from California DFG - California Interagency Wildlife Task Group
