A newt!

Very true, and another reason why GCN are warty, and the other newts aren't.

I heard somewhere that the white spots on GCN are also a warning sign, but not sure whether that is true or not. Usually, it is a bright colour that is a warning sign to predators.

Never tasted GCN poison so can't really comment on that one noddles

but thanks for the warning on the effects and what it's like.


Edited by sussexecology - 25 Feb 2012 at 9:49pm

I would love to have been a fly living on that laboratory wall, fantastically entertaining stuff!

I reckon you might have something there, Gemma - nice deduction!  I've always thought it might help GCN to detect each other in murky water, as the tail flash on the male is very conspicuous, but those speckles look just like the toxins emerging from the warts on the animal.  Monograph, maybe?!

I saw your post at earlier Gemma, and would agree with you on that one. Oh boy, next time i see a male GCN and look at those white spots, I will be thinking of your comments Gemma.

I'm sure the aposematic colouration on the belly would have an effect when a terrestrial predator turns the newt over - as well as when seen from below in the water.  Also GCN can do that 'unkenreflex' thing where they raise their head and tail to show a flash of the belly patterning when threatened by a predator.  My reference to the tail flash was just to make the point that this is often a characteristic which is visible even in murky water, but it is purely a sexual selection device and not a warning (in fact it makes male GCN more conspicuous to predators in shallow ponds, I guess.)