The Sierra newt (Taricha sierrae) is a newt found west of the Sierra Nevada, from Shasta county to Tulare County, in California, Western North America.

Its adult length can range from 5 to 8 in (13 to 20 cm). Its skin produces a potent toxin.

Sierra Newts communicates with other through making a clicking noise.

The Sierra newt was formerly regarded as a subspecies (Taricha torosa sierrae) of the California newt (Taricha torosa). In 2007 it was determined that the two represent "distinct evolutionary lineages". When looking at the Sierra Newt and California newt they possess different phenotypically. This is seen when looking at the of head shape, color pattern, and the fact that patterns of differentiation in these characters are aligned with the genetic clines seen in the two newts.

Sierra newts exist primarily in between the Cascades and Sierra Nevada, up to about 2000m. They prefer less humid climates than the rough-skinned newts. The Sierra newt migrates between aquatic and terrestrial habitats seasonally. Outside the breeding season, the newts are land-dwelling, preferring rock crevices and logs, in habitats such as forests, woodlands, and shrub-lands. However, during breeding season, the newts will migrate to aquatic regions to mate and lay eggs.

Appearance

The Adult Sierra newts coloring can be a yellowish-brown to dark brown, burnt orange, and sometimes yellowish. Their eyelids and the area below their eyes are lighter than the rest of the head. Their iris is light silvery to pale yellow. The eyes appear to extend to or beyond the outline of the head when viewed from above.

If a male is mating he will develop smooth skin, a flattened tail to aid with swimming, a swollen cloaca, and rough nuptial pads on the undersides of the feet to aid in holding onto females. The skin of females during the breeding season becomes more vascular, their tail may develop a small blade, and their vents become more prominent.