The California newt is approximately 2.5-3.5 inches in length at full maturity, excluding the tail which can add another 5 inches.

Their backs range in color from a reddish-brown to a dark brown, and they have a distinct yellow-orange underbelly that warns predators to stay away. When faced with danger, one of these newts will lift its head, point its tail, and raise its front limbs in order to expose its bright coloration.

California newts are incredibly difficult to distinguish from close relatives and the Sierra newt. One has to inspect the shape of its teeth, the size and color of the newt’s eyes, and study the differences between the defensive behaviors of multiple species of newts to make a determination.

The California newt can be found along the California coast, from Northwest California to the Mexican border. They mostly occupy wooded areas near ponds and creeks, as well as grasslands and shrubby environments.

Their habitat also depends on their geographic location with southern populations having a preference for a drier climate and northern California newts enjoying areas with more moisture. During the breeding season, the California newt is primarily found in the water.

California newts are dirurnal and are often seen traveling across land in search of food. Their diet includes small invertebrates, mostly insects and worms, and amphibian eggs and larvae. They even eat eggs belonging to their own species. These newts have an adhesive texture to their tongue and will project it out to catch prey.

California newt reproduction is preceded by a courtship dance ritual initiated by the male newt. Female California newts can lay multiple egg masses in one day, each containing anywhere from 7-47 eggs. She lays her eggs on an underwater plant that the mass is able to attach to.

The eggs hatch after 2-8 weeks and the larval stage takes months to complete, followed by a 2-week metamorphosis.

The California newt produces an incredibly harmful neurotoxin known as tetrodotoxin, the same one that the pufferfish secretes. The neurotoxin is only harmful to humans if they consume it or it enters an open wound. It can have extremely detrimental effects in as little as 20 minutes, such as respiratory and nerve paralysis. Only one predator has developed a resistance to the California newt’s poison which is the common garter snake. 

Observational studies have shown that this unique species has the ability to maneuver through small fires without any harm coming to them. It is believed that the secretions produced through their skin aid in heat protection, a useful adaptation for organisms living in California.