Visitors 36
Modified 21-Dec-23
Created 21-Mar-16
22 photos
Coastal Range newts (Taricha torosa torosa) gather together in the spring to mate at the bottom of San Francisquito Creek. I watched several pairs for a long time, as they moved slowly along the creek bottom, the lighter male clasping firmly to the back of the darker female as she slowly crawled along. I followed one pair for 5 minutes, moving across the rocks in the current and then the female burrowing her head into the soft mud and grass. I saw one unattached male approach a breeding pair and turn away unsatisfied. All in all, I saw at least 3 breeding pairs and one unattached male. Watching for a half hour, I never saw a newt take a breath for sure, though some males lifted their heads near the surface. A few times males and then females emitted bubbles.
There were also two other newts (lighter-colored males?) along Trail 2 above the creek.
I noticed the mating newts underwater after walking across the shallow creek to get a good angle for a photo. I watched them for a half hour, from 9:14 to 9:43 am on a cloudy spring morning, between rains.
