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Markings: |
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Spike Member Joined: 11 Aug 2005 No. of posts: 2  View other posts by Spike |
Posted: 11 Sep 2006 I was just wondering why GCN have such distinctive underbelly markings. Can anyone enlighten me on this topic. |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 11 Sep 2006 Usually bright markings like these act as a warning to predators and as GCN are capable of exuding toxins I would guess this is the function. In other words to clarify the animals toxicity by displaying aposematic colouration. Not sure if GCN have been recorded to display the unken reflex such as certain frogs, toads and salamanders where they very obviously turn over to show the bright colouration, certainly I have not witnessed this reflex in GCN. Makes you wonder why a species such as the common toad which is also capable of exuding nasties doesn't have a bright belly doesn't it! Maybe there are other explanations? Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369  View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 12 Sep 2006
Hi Gemma Some newts do adopt anti predator behaviour -
Like this male crested which was found in Hawkwell Nov 2005 under a piece of refuse Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 12 Sep 2006 That's great Jon, I had always wondered if GCN did. I guess most I've found under refugia have been too torpid to do much at all. So that must be our answer then, aposematic colouration.. 'don't eat GCN 'cause we taste horrid!  Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 13 Sep 2006 WARNING - NOT A NICE PICTURE! Though it didnt help this little critter
Something ate the eggs out of her body through the bright coloured belly - but what? Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
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mynewt Member Joined: 18 Jul 2006 No. of posts: 12 View other posts by mynewt |
Posted: 25 Sep 2006 Hi there GCN can bend their bodies banana-like to show warning colours to predators - it's called the 'unken reflex' - I guess from German herpetology. I have always supposed that they're camouflaged on the top as an initial defence and then colourful underneath as a last resort, given that they're not highly poisonous like poison dart frogs, for instance. |
- Markings |
