Anton Sorokin

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Flora & Fauna of CA

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After eating a highly toxic newt a California red sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis) is somewhat sluggish and takes a few min to push the newt down further as well as clear debris that is stuck in its mouth.

A california endemic red sided gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis) eating a newt.

Gartersnakes are one of the only animals that can feed on California newts (Taricha torosa) as the newts contain highly potent neurotoxins - tetrodotoxin specifically. Yet the snakes have evolved resistance to the toxins, in turn the newts have become more toxic, and the garter snakes become more resistant leading to an evolutionary arms race of toxicity and resistance.

After eating a highly toxic newt a California red sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis infernalis) is somewhat sluggish and takes a few min to push the newt down further as well as clear debris that is stuck in its mouth.