The California newt is a newt

Newt

A newt is an aquatic amphibian of the family Salamandridae, although not all aquatic salamanders are considered newts. Newts are classified in the subfamily Pleurodelinae of the family Salamandridae, and are found in North America, Europe and Asia...

. It is also referred to as the orange bellied newt. They can grow to be 8 inches (20.3 cm) in length.
T. torosa adult length can range from 5 inches (12.7 cm) to 8 inches (20.3 cm).
California newts are divided into two subspecies:

• Sierra newt
  Sierra Newt
  The Sierra Newt is a subspecies of the California Newt that lives to the west of Sierra Nevada....
  
   (Taricha torosa sierrae)
• Coastal Range newt
  Coastal Range newt
  The Costal Range newt is a subspecies of the California Newt. It is native to the coast, California Coast Ranges, and western Transverse and Peninsular Ranges, from Mendocino County south to San Diego County....
  
   (Taricha torosa torosa).

The difference between these two seems to be only in the location in which the newt is found.
California newts exist primarily on the California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 coastline and in the Sierra Nevada.