prompter: Are Rough-Skinned Newts more poisonous than Poison Dart Frogs? What about California Newts?

assistant: Rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa) are considered to be one of the most toxic amphibians in North America, and their skin secretion contains a potent neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin, which is similar to the toxin found in pufferfish. On the other hand, poison dart frogs (Dendrobatidae) are known for their bright coloration, which serves as a warning to predators that they are toxic. However, not all poison dart frogs are equally toxic, and some species are not toxic at all.

In terms of toxicity, it is generally accepted that rough-skinned newts are more poisonous than most species of poison dart frogs. According to some sources, the toxicity of rough-skinned newts is about 10 times greater than that of poison dart frogs.

California newts (Taricha torosa) are also toxic and contain tetrodotoxin in their skin secretions, but they are not as toxic as rough-skinned newts. Their toxicity is similar to that of some poison dart frog species, but again, not all poison dart frogs are equally toxic.

prompter: where are rough skin newts found and what are visual descriptions of both?

assistant: Rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa) are found in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, including parts of California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. They inhabit a variety of aquatic habitats, such as lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands, and can also be found in forests and other wooded areas.

In terms of visual description, rough-skinned newts are typically brown or olive-green in color on their back and sides, with a yellow or orange belly. They have a rough, granulated skin, which gives them their name, and their skin is often covered with small warts or bumps. They have a flattened head with small eyes, and their tail is relatively short compared to other newt species.

California newts (Taricha torosa) are also found in the western United States, primarily in California. They are similar in appearance to rough-skinned newts, but their coloration is generally more uniform and can range from brown to dark olive-green. Their skin is also rough and granulated, and they have a yellow or orange belly. However, California newts have a longer tail compared to rough-skinned newts, and their eyes are larger in proportion to their head.

Both rough-skinned newts and California newts have the ability to produce toxic secretions from their skin, which can act as a defense mechanism against predators. It's important to note that these newts should not be handled or ingested, as their toxins can be harmful to humans and other animals.

assistant: Rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa) are found primarily in the western United States and Canada, from Alaska down to California. They are aquatic and can be found in a variety of freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams.

Rough-skinned newts have a distinctive appearance. They are dark brown or black on top with bright orange undersides, and their skin is rough and granular, hence their name. They have a flattened head, small eyes, and a broad tail. Adult newts are usually around 7-8 cm in length.

California newts (Taricha torosa) are also found in the western United States, primarily in California. They are also aquatic and can be found in freshwater habitats.

California newts have a similar appearance to rough-skinned newts, but they are slightly smaller, with adult newts typically measuring around 5-7 cm in length. They have a dark brown or black back and an orange belly, but their skin is smoother than that of rough-skinned newts.

prompter: Are there others with similar appearance and habitat?

assistant: Rough-Skinned Newts are considered to be one of the most poisonous animals in the world, with potent neurotoxins in their skin that can cause death in small animals and humans if ingested. In comparison, Poison Dart Frogs are also known for their toxicity, but their level of toxicity can vary among species.

California Newts, also known as Orange-Bellied Newts, are also poisonous, but their toxicity is not as potent as that of Rough-Skinned Newts. The skin of California Newts contains a toxin called tetrodotoxin, which can cause numbness and respiratory paralysis but is not typically fatal to humans.

Overall, Rough-Skinned Newts are generally considered to be more poisonous than Poison Dart Frogs, but toxicity levels can vary among species within each group.

prompter: How do Rough-Skinned Newts produce their toxins? Is it something they ingest or is it produced within their bodies?

assistant: Rough-Skinned Newts produce their toxins within their bodies. The skin of the newt contains a neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin, which is produced by glands in the skin. This toxin is a defense mechanism that helps protect the newt from predators. The newt does not ingest anything to produce the toxin, but rather synthesizes it internally. It's important to note that while the newts are highly toxic, they are not aggressive and will only use their toxins as a last resort when they feel threatened or attacked.

prompter: How difficult is it to find these creatures and film them?

assistant: The source of the Rough-Skinned Newt's toxin was unclear for many years, but now scientists suspect that the tetrodotoxin is in fact produced by bacteria living on the newt's skin. In 2020, a team of microbiologists analyzed the skin microbiome of Rough-Skinned Newts and were able to isolate four different genera of symbiotic bacteria that were capable of synthesizing tetrodotoxin[1]. However, we still do not yet know how the Rough-Skinned Newt induces the bacteria living on the skin to produce the toxin. This remains to be discovered!

[1] Patric M Vaelli, Kevin R Theis, Janet E Williams, Lauren A O'Connell, James A Foster, Heather L Eisthen (2020) The skin microbiome facilitates adaptive tetrodotoxin production in poisonous newts eLife 9:e53898

assistant: Rough-skinned newts and California newts do produce toxins in their skin that can be harmful to predators, but they are not considered as poisonous as poison dart frogs:

- Rough-skinned newts and California newts contain tetrodotoxin, which can cause symptoms like numbness and respiratory paralysis if ingested in large enough amounts. However, their toxins are less potent than the alkaloid toxins found in poison dart frogs. The toxins of poison dart frogs like the golden poison frog can be lethal even in small amounts and they are considered among the most poisonous animals on earth.

- The toxicity of newts can vary based on factors like diet, habitat, and life stage. Adult newts tend to be more toxic than larvae. Poison dart frog toxins are produced internally and are more consistently potent.

- Newts have to be ingested or touched/handled to transmit their toxins, while poison dart frog toxins can be transmitted through contact with mucous glands or even inhaled as an aerosol. So poison dart frogs are considered more dangerous to predators and humans.

In summary, while rough-skinned newts and California newts do have toxins in their skin that can be harmful in sufficient amounts, poison dart frogs contain more potent toxins and have more mechanisms to transmit their toxins, so they are generally considered more poisonous than the newt species.