if your local pet store has 'red bellies' id like to know. are you talking about the taricha species 'rivularis' or a cynops specie? a true taricha 'red belly' will have black eyes and look like a rough skinned newt in the body and the belly will have no spots. the names 'california newt' 'roughskin newt' and 'oregon newt' are too general and usually mean the same animal-but most pet stores are clueless- that is why latin names are used amoungst keepers. most of what is sold in the hobby are taricha granulosa -i am unsure of their origins as i was told oregon and california dont issue collection permits (like for the pet trade) that is why i am wondering if the store really is selling 'red belly' tarichas.(if they are please let us all know-true 'red bellies' are hard to come by and deisred by many). common name wise though the 'rough skinned' and 'oregon/california' newt should refer to taricha granulosa and the name 'pacific newt' or 'pacific coast newt' should refer to taricha torosa torosa-but again dont trust a pet store to get it right-often their suppliers have only a limited number of boxes to check off on their supply sheets-so quite a few species are often sold -sometimes in the same batch-as the same animal.



you mention he rarely goes onto land so i am going to say it is taricha granulosa-despite their bumpier skin (more like a toads) they are very aquatic

[ Hide Replies ]

• Pacific newts - caecilianman02, Wed Jun 2 15:49:09 2004
• RE: Pacific newts - paris, Thu Jun 3 01:27:52 2004
• RE: Pacific newts - EdK, Thu Jun 3 09:38:21 2004
• RE: Pacific newts - caecilianman02, Thu Jun 3 14:18:30 2004
• RE: Pacific newts - Farvoyager, Wed Jun 9 23:22:59 2004
• RE: Pacific newts - caecilianman02, Thu Jun 10 21:09:05 2004