Salamandridae is a family of salamanders consisting of true salamanders and newts. Salamandrids are distinguished from other salamanders by the lack of rib or costal grooves along the sides of their bodies and by their rough skin. Their skin is very granular because of the number of poison glands. They also lack nasolabial grooves. Most species of Salamandridae have moveable eyelids but lack lacrimal glands.
The Asiatic salamanders are primitive salamanders found all over Asia, and in European Russia. They are closely related to the giant salamanders, with which they form the suborder Cryptobranchoidea. About half of hynobiids currently described are unique to Japan.
The Chinese fire belly newt is a small black newt, with bright-orange aposematic coloration on their ventral sides. C. orientalis is commonly seen in pet stores, where it is frequently confused with the Japanese fire belly newt due to similarities in size and coloration. C. orientalis typically exhibits smoother skin and a rounder tail than C. pyrrhogaster, and has less obvious parotoid glands.
The fire belly newts or fire newts are a genus (Cynops) of newts native to Japan and China. All of the species show bright yellow or red bellies, but this feature is not unique to this genus. Their skin contains a toxin that can be harmful if ingested.
Paramesotriton labiatus is a species of newt in the family Salamandridae. It is endemic to Guangxi, China. In literature prior to 2011, this species may have been confused with Paramesotriton chinensis, Pachytriton granulosus, or Paramesotriton ermizhaoi. This species has several vernacular names, including Unterstein's newt, spotless stout newt, spotless smooth warty newt, Zhao Ermi's smooth warty newt, and paddletail newt.
Tylototriton is a genus of newts known as crocodile newts or knobby newts. About 25 known species are in this genus. Many species have been described just recently. They range from northeastern India and Nepal through Burma to northern Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and southern China.
The Dayang newt is a rare species of salamander in the family Salamandridae, endemic to China. It is known from Jiexi County in eastern Guangdong from where it was collected in 1936 and described as a new species in 1983. More recently, it has also been found from Dehua County in central Fujian.
The spot-tailed warty newt is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae only found in central China. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss. Female spot-tailed warty newts reach a total length of 155 mm (6.1 in), males are slightly shorter.
The Chinese warty newt is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is found only in China, with a range extending from Chongqing to Hunan, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi Provinces in Central China. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, and freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss. Female Chinese warty newts reach total length of 151 mm (5.9 in), males are slightly shorter.
The Wanggao warty newt is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae found only in northeastern Guangxi, China, in Zhongshan, Fuchuan and Gongcheng counties. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Paramesotriton guangxiensis, the Guangxi warty newt, is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is found only in China: it is only known from Paiyangshan, Ningming County, in Guangxi Province. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Laos warty newt, Laotriton laoensis, is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is found only in the Saysomboun Special Zone and Phou Kout District in Xiangkhouang Province, Laos. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and rivers. In 2014, it is classed as Endangered.
Scutiger is a genus of toads in the family Megophryidae. Common name lazy toads has been coined for them. They occur in China, Burma, Nepal, and northern India in high-altitude habitats. Most are endemic to China.
Pachytriton, also known as the paddle-tail newts or Chinese newts, is a genus of salamanders in the family Salamandridae. They are found in southeastern China.
Paramesotriton zhijinensis is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is found only in Shuangyan Pond, 1310 m, Zhijin County, Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China.
The Fuding fire belly newt is a rare species of newt in the family Salamandridae, endemic to China. It is only known from Fuding in northeastern Fujian, from the locality where it was described as a new species in 2010. Although it is genetically similar to the Chinese fire belly newt, it is morphologically more similar to the Dayang fire belly newt. The range of C. fudingensis is separate from both other species.
Zhao Ermi was a Chinese herpetologist, born in Chengdu. His ancestors were Manchu Bannerman of Irgen Gioro clan who were stationed in Chengdu during Qing Dynasty. He was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2001. He died at West China Medical Center of Sichuan University on 24 December 2016.
Paramesotriton yunwuensis is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is endemic to the Yunwu Mountains in Guangdong, southern China. Its type locality is near Nanchong village, Fuhe, Luoding City. Common name Yunwu warty newt has been coined for it.
Paramesotriton maolanensis is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is known only from Maolan National Nature Reserve in Libo County, southern Guizhou, China. It is a relatively large member of its genus, reaching a total length of about 21 cm (8.3 in). All know specimens were collected from a deep pool, but the species probably lives in underground rivers too, that is, it is stygobitic.
Scutiger wuguanfui is a species of toad in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to Tibet and only known from its type locality in the Medog County. The specific name wuguanfui honours Wu Guanfu, a Chinese herpetologist. Common names Wu's lazy toad, Medog lazy toad and Medog cat-eyed toad have been coined for it.
