the online meeting place for all who love our amphibians and reptiles |
|
A newt! |
Post Reply | Page <12 |
Author | |
sussexecology
Senior Member Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 411 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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 |
|
Caleb
Senior Member Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Status: Offline Points: 660 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Not just the cat- the experimenter tried it herself. You can read a transcript of the original paper at http://www.caudata.org/triturus/ormerod.html - it's absolutely fantastic. GCN toxicity is nothing compared to some American newts- there's been at least one human fatality from a Taricha species. |
|
Noodles
Senior Member Joined: 05 Dec 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 534 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I would love to have been a fly living on that laboratory wall, fantastically entertaining stuff!
Cheers for that Caleb
|
|
GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I wonder if the white spots on GCN or GWN as Eleanor would have preferred, mimic the white exudation? It's a thought isn't it that any animal chewing on one and seeing the exudation might then avoid one with white spots.
|
|
will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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?!
|
|
GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Well I suppose Will if Eleanor can write a Monograph on sucking newts I ought to write one regarding the white spots mimicking exudation . I'll just have to borrow my neighbours cats for a few days and get a black marker pen...
|
|
sussexecology
Senior Member Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 411 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I saw your post at earlier Gemma, and would agree with you on that one.
Is a nice twist to the white spots on a GCN. I might try the same thing too with my own cat, who is white with blobs of brown/black so I might "add" some more black spots on her and see if anything happens. Let me know how you get on with your cat for sure! |
|
sussexecology
Senior Member Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 411 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Will,
had the same thought the other night If i was a GCN and wanted to warn off predators, wouldn't the bright colours on the underside (or the blobs underneath or the warty skin) be of more value to a GCN than the white spots..... The white flash in the tail, i believe is used in courtship displays Correct me if I am wrong. |
|
will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
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.)
Thinking more about this, white speckles are diagnostic of several species of European crested newt, but tend to be rarer in the Italian crested newt Triturus carnifex, which, as far as I know, has the same level of toxic skin secretions as our GCN, so maybe it does serve to help newts with interspecific recognition after all... nothing is ever as straightforward as it seems in these kinds of 'why does an animal have this feature?' debates, I suppose.
Cheers
Will
|
|
Post Reply | Page <12 |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |