[4] The red-bellied newt is brown on the upper body with a red underbelly, has grainy skin, and grows to between 5.5 and 7.5 in (14 and 19 cm).

eat a diet largely consisting of invertebrates, though adults will also take fish and amphibian eggs.

Eastern newts of the genus Notophthalmus (= Diemictylus of earlier authors) also secrete tetrodotoxin, but in lesser amounts.

When handling Taricha specimens, the toxins should not be allowed to come in contact with broken skin or mucous membranes.

Proper hand washing after handling should prevent any problems with ingestion of tetrodotoxin (as well as infection from Salmonella which newts may carry),[9][10] though some individuals are known to be allergic to skin contact with the toxin.