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Red-bellied Newt

Taricha rivularis

Amphibian · family Salamandridae · order Caudata

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G2: imperiled[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G2 Imperiled[2]
Native in
1 state[3]
Typical length
7 in[4]

The Red-bellied Newt (Taricha rivularis) is an amphibian in the salamander family Salamandridae[5]. NatureServe lists it as native only in California and ranks it Imperiled worldwide[3][2].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Red-bellied Newt a global rank of G2, which means Imperiled[2]. Its national rank in the United States is N2, also Imperiled[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[7]. The newt is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G2 (Imperiled)
NatureServe US rank[6] N2 (Imperiled)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Vulnerable
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Red-bellied Newt lives

NatureServe lists the Red-bellied Newt as native in 1 US state or territory, which is California[3]. NatureServe also gives it a state conservation rank there[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank S2CAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (1 states)
StateRankMeaning
CaliforniaS2Imperiled

Habitat

This newt lives in forests and woodlands, including hardwood, conifer and mixed types[10]. It is tied to flowing water such as creeks and rivers, including riffles and pools[10]. When it is not active, it hides under rocks, logs and other debris on the ground[11]. It may also use rodent burrows or underground crevices[11]. It usually breeds in flowing water[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size and diet

NatureServe records the adult diet as invertivore, which means it eats animals without backbones[12]. The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 19 cm (7 in)[4]. NatureServe estimates the global adult population at 100,000 to more than 1,000,000 individuals[8]. The eggs are laid on the undersides of rocks in streams[11].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 19 cm (7 in)
Food habits[12] Invertivore
Migration[13] local migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe records that adults hibernate or aestivate, which means they go dormant during part of the year[14]. It also lists the newt as a local migrant, and populations can differ[13]. On GBIF, most US records fall in February, March and April[15]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[15].

January: 318 recordsJanFebruary: 338 recordsFebMarch: 605 recordsMarApril: 459 recordsAprMay: 41 recordsMayJune: 24 recordsJunJuly: 40 recordsJulAugust: 10 recordsAugSeptember: 6 recordsSepOctober: 100 recordsOctNovember: 247 recordsNovDecember: 283 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[15].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January318
February338
March605
April459
May41
June24
July40
August10
September6
October100
November247
December283

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

Questions people ask

Is the Red-bellied Newt endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe still ranks it G2, Imperiled, and the IUCN category it records is Vulnerable[2][7].
Where does the Red-bellied Newt live?
NatureServe lists it as native in California only[3]. It lives in forests and woodlands near flowing water[10].
What does the Red-bellied Newt eat?
NatureServe records adults as invertivores, which means they eat animals without backbones[12].
How big is the Red-bellied Newt?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 19 cm (7 in)[4].
When can you see a Red-bellied Newt?
Most GBIF records in the United States fall in February, March and April[15]. Adults hibernate or aestivate for part of the year[14].

Facts and sources

  1. Red-bellied Newt is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Red-bellied Newt: G2 (Imperiled). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Red-bellied Newt as native in 1 US state or territory: California. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 19 cm (7 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. Red-bellied Newt (Taricha rivularis) is a amphibian in the family Salamandridae, order Caudata. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N2 (Imperiled). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe state ranks for Red-bellied Newt (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Red-bellied Newt: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Riparian, Medium river, Creek, Spring/spring brook, High gradient, Moderate gradient,... NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Red-bellied Newt. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe migration category for Red-bellied Newt: local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Hibernates/aestivates. NatureServe Explorer
  15. GBIF observation records of Red-bellied Newt in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.