Muddyvalley Loc: McMinnville, Oregon

The rough-skinned newt or roughskin newt, (Taricha granulosa), produces a neurotoxin called Tetrodotoxin or (TTX).
The neurotoxin TTX is said to be 10,000 times more toxic than cyanide and two to three times stronger than the venom of the world's "deadliest" snake, the Inland Taipan from Australia. It is the same toxin found in Puffer Fish and is exuded through the skin when the newt is disturbed.
While some of the common Garter Snakes have evolved with an immunity to the toxin, and I believe that no other animal has. To the best of my knowledge Herons and Egrets have not and will die shortly after eating one. This egret played with the newt for at least a half hour, holding it gently and washing it often. When the bird finally saw me, it flew farther away, carrying the newt with it. While I did not see it swallow the newt, I looked up, and the newt was gone. Perhaps it was washing out the TTX to a point where it wasn't toxic enough to harm the bird and then ate it? Or it was just playing with it? I took these yesterday and I saw no signs of a dead egret later, or today.
Please download for a good look at the newt.
700mm
f/5.6
1/1600sec
iISO-160
ex bias -0.7 step
D-850
hand held

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

Doing his Simpson's "Mr. Burns" imitation.

(Download)

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

What a great series

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

Beautiful photos, Victor. All those pixels make great downloads.

CLF Loc: Raleigh, NC

Victor, first off thank you for the education, I never knew any newt was this dangerous. The set of photos are fantastic and DDLs show off the sharp in focus results you got.

Greg

merrytexan Loc: georgia

beautiful shots and great narative, victor!

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

An absolutely amazing set Victor. Great downloads. I enjoyed the information too. Well done.
-Doc

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

Egret 1, newt 0, maybe. Nice series.

Chuckwal Loc: Boynton Beach Florida

Super set thought the last photo would
be feet up and gone must be immune well done
chuck

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Great set and very interesting info.

bob_71 Loc: Severna Park, MD

Exceptional shots! Interesting information.

Bob

Muddyvalley Loc: McMinnville, Oregon

Thank you very much.

Muddyvalley Loc: McMinnville, Oregon

Much appreciated Earl!

Muddyvalley Loc: McMinnville, Oregon

Thanks Merry!

Muddyvalley Loc: McMinnville, Oregon

Thanks Doc. I appreciate the comments very much. Watching the scene was very interesting. I wish I knew the final outcome.

Muddyvalley Loc: McMinnville, Oregon

Thanks for looking & commenting Greg. They are only dangerous if you eat them or touch them & get the toxin in your eye. There are people that actually keep them as pets. Crazy!