USGS Science⌕ Search
Home/Archive/USGS

USGS · 70194226

Taricha granulosa (Rough-skinned newt). Summer habitat and aggregation.

Christopher A. Pearl
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Terrestrial behavior and habitat associations of post-metamorphic Taricha granulosa are poorly understood (Oliver and McCurdy 1974. Can. J. Zool. 52:541-545; Pimentel 1960. Amer. Midl. Nat. 63:470-496). Chandler (1918. Oregon Agric. Coll. Exper. Sta. Bull. 152:6) referenced Fall T granulosa aggregations in "cavities under stumps, logs, and stones," but does not present specific data. Pimentel (op. cit.) reported that T granulosa constructed burrows in a terrarium and 1-3 adults of both sexes shared burrows for up to three months. Here, I describe two summer aggregations of T granulosa from the Willow Creek Natural Area (WCNA) in the southern Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA. The WCNA includes wetlands (primarily seasonal), prairies, riparian forests of willow (Salix spp.), black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), and Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia), and patches of upland forest of Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana), California black oak (Quercus kelloggii), and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Taricha granulosa commonly breed in old stock ponds and beaver impoundments on the site.

Explore related subjects

Herpetological ReviewArticle

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Christopher A. Pearl. 2006. Taricha granulosa (Rough-skinned newt). Summer habitat and aggregation.. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70194226

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related USGS reports

USGS2026

No detection of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans after non-native salamander putative pet release in Massachusetts, USA

The disease caused by the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) has caused mass mortality of salamanders across Europe (Stegen et al. 2017; amphibians are not known to be susceptible to the disease (Martel et al. 2014). Bsal puts North American amphibian biodiversity at risk (Martel et al. 2014; Gray et al. 2015) despite imports of potentially infected amphibians (USFWS 2016; WAPTR 2018; Grear et al. 2021). Recently, the U.S. has announced the finalization of the 2016 interim rule to the Lacey Act (USFWS 2016) to restrict imports of all species of salamanders from 20 genera to the list of injurious amphibians and has added 16 genera to the injurious amphibian list in a new interim rule in response to updated research on salamander susceptibility to Bsal infection (USFWS 2025). A large-scale survey across the USA failed to detect Bsal in over 10,000 individuals (Waddle et al. 2020), and ongoing efforts by North American colleges and universities are similarly conducting Bsal surveillance without more recent detection (e.g., Hyman and Hill 2024). Concerned amphibian and disease specialists nevertheless are preparing for a Bsal invasion into North America (Grant et al. 2017; Olson et al.2024). Despite the initial survey results, the risk of Bsal incursion into North America remains due to broad host susceptibility of North American amphibian species (Gray et al. 2023). The major driver of Bsal introduction risk in the U.S. is expected to be captive amphibian release (Cunningham et al. 2015; Grear et al. 2021). Bsal primarily affects salamanders but anuran species can also be vectors (e.g., Towe et al. 2021; Monzon et al. 2022; Gray et al. 2023; Olson et al. 2024), increasing the risk of a released amphibian carrying Bsal into the natural environment (Grear et al. 2021). An early survey of pet salamanders in the United States did not detect Bsal (Klocke et al. 2017), but even one animal released with Bsal could have a major effect on local amphibians. Early detection and rapid response can improve host outcomes (Bletz et al. 2024; Gray et al. 2018), but the lack of timely knowledge about unwanted release of non-native pets to natural systems causes inevitable delay. Herein, we describe our experience responding to a report of a released non-native amphibian species, common in the pet trade (Gerson 2012; Maximo et al. 2021). We suggest improvements to early detection and rapid response efforts for amphibians and amphibian disease

Massachusetts↗