Sierra Newt
Taricha torosa sierrae
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- T. t. sierrae – Mariposa Co, CA – photo by Gary Nafis
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Taricha t. sierrae occurs in California along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains from Shasta County to Tulare County.
LEGAL STATUS: Taricha t. sierrae is a protected species in California.
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Taricha torosa sierrae (Twitty, 1942)
Genus: Taricha, Greek – tarichos = preserved mummy — poss. ref. rough skinned appearance
Species: torosa, Latin = full of muscle, fleshy — ref. thicker head and body
Subspecies: sierrae, Sierra Nevada Mountains — type locality, Butte County, CA, l937
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962