Red-tailed knobby newt

Last updated

Red-tailed knobby newt
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Tylototriton
Species:
T. kweichowensis
Binomial name
Tylototriton kweichowensis
Fang & Chang, 1932

The red-tailed knobby newt or Kweichow (crocodile) newt (Tylototriton kweichowensis) is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is found in western Guizhou ("Kweichow" being an old spelling of Guizhou) and north-eastern Yunnan, China. [1] It is most closely related to emperor newt (Tylototriton shanjing) and Himalayan newt (T. verrucosus). [2]

Contents

Description

The red-tailed knobby newt is a relatively large, robust newt. Their total length is 155–210 mm (6.1–8.3 in), females being larger than males. They live in small ponds, slowly flowing streams and surrounding shady and moist grassy slopes with many hiding places. Outside the reproductive season, they are rather terrestrial. The reproductive season is from early May to early July, coinciding with the rainy season. [2]

Distribution

The red-tailed knobby newt has been recorded in Bijie, Dafang, Hezhang, Nayong, Shuicheng, Weining, and Zhijin counties of western Guizhou, and Yiliang and Yongshan counties in northeastern Yunnan (Zhao 1998). [3]

Diet

The red-tailed knobby newt feeds on worms, insects, larva, and their smaller newts. They can ingest small frogs and small toads. In captivity they often eat wax worms, mealworms, crickets, and even small fish like guppies.

Captivity

In captivity they should have a 15-20 gallon tank for housing two or three newts. 5-10 gallon tank is best to house one newt. 40-60 gallon tank for housing 5 or six newts.

Related Research Articles

Salamandridae Family of amphibians

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.

<i>Tylototriton shanjing</i> Species of amphibian

Tylototriton shanjing, the emperor newt, Mandarin newt or Mandarin salamander, is a highly toxic newt native to China.

<i>Tylototriton verrucosus</i> Species of amphibian

Tylototriton verrucosus is a species of newt found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Common names include: Himalayan newt, crocodile newt, crocodile salamander, Himalayan salamander, red knobby newt.

<i>Tylototriton</i> Genus of amphibians

Tylototriton is a genus of newts known as crocodile newts or knobby newts. About 32 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.

Chuxiong fire-bellied newt Species of salamander

The Chuxiong fire-bellied newt is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae that is endemic to China where it is only found in Guizhou and Yunnan. It also occurs in Kunming Lake.

<i>Neurergus kaiseri</i> Species of amphibian

Neurergus kaiseri, the Luristan newt, Kaiser's mountain newt, Kaiser's spotted newt or emperor spotted newt, is a species of very colourful salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is endemic to the southern Zagros Mountains in Iran where it is known from just four streams. Populations of this newt have been declining and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as "vulnerable". A captive breeding programme has been established in several zoos.

Black knobby newt Species of salamander

The black knobby newt is a species of salamanders in the family Salamandridae found in China and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss and overharvesting.

The Hainan knobby newt is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is found only in the island of Hainan, China. It is known from the Wuzhi Mountains, Diaoluoshan, and Jianfengling. All these locations are nature reserves. Nevertheless, the species is threatened by habitat loss and degradation due to agriculture, clear-cutting and infrastructure development for tourist activities.

The Taliang knobby newt is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is found only in southern Sichuan, China. It inhabits densely vegetated forested valleys, where it breeds in pools, ponds and paddy fields. It is a common species within its confined range.

Wenxian knobby newt Species of salamander

The Wenxian knobby newt or Wenxian knobby salamander is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is endemic to central China. Its type locality is Wen County in Gansu, or in Chinese: 文县; pinyin: Wénxiàn, hence the name.

Newt Salamander in the subfamily Pleurodelinae

A newt is a salamander in the subfamily Pleurodelinae. The terrestrial juvenile phase is called an eft. Unlike other members of the family Salamandridae, newts are semiaquatic, alternating between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Not all aquatic salamanders are considered newts, however. More than 100 known species of newts are found in North America, Europe, North Africa and Asia. Newts metamorphose through three distinct developmental life stages: aquatic larva, terrestrial juvenile (eft), and adult. Adult newts have lizard-like bodies and return to the water every year to breed, otherwise living in humid, cover-rich land habitats.

Tylototriton vietnamensis, the Vietnamese crocodile newt or Vietnamese knobby newt, is a species of newt in the family Salamandridae. It is known from four localities in northern Vietnam where it occurs in and near ponds within dense bamboo vegetation. It is quite likely that it also will be found in adjacent areas of China and possibly Laos. It is possible that specimens earlier identified as T. asperrimus are in fact T. vietnamensis. However, based on molecular genetic data, its closest relative is T. hainanensis.

Tylototriton notialis, the Laos knobby newt, is a species of newt in the family Salamandridae. It is only known from its type locality in the Nakai-Nam Theun Biodiversity Conservation Area, Khammouane Province, central Laos. The type locality is an evergreen mixed deciduous–pine forest; the newts were found in and near a small stream. It is likely that Laos knobby newt will also be found in adjacent areas of Vietnam. Based on molecular genetic data, it belongs to the Tylototriton asperrimus group of knobby newts. Laos knobby newt is a small newt, with total length of about 11–14 cm (4.3–5.5 in).

<i>Tylototriton ziegleri</i> Species of amphibian

Tylototriton ziegleri, also known as Ziegler's crocodile newt or Ziegler's knobby newt, is a species of newt in the family Salamandridae. It is currently known from Hà Giang and Cao Bằng provinces in northern Vietnam, although its actual range probably wider; there is a photograph to suggest it also occurs in Lào Cai Province in Vietnam, and its range likely extends to Yunnan in southern China. Based on molecular genetic data, Tylototriton ziegleri belongs to the "Tylototriton asperrimus group" of newts. The specific name ziegleri honours Thomas Ziegler, a German herpetologist.

Crocodile newt may refer to:

<i>Tylototriton himalayanus</i> Species of salamander

Tylototriton himalayanus is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is known from the Ilam District in eastern Nepal, Darjeeling in northwestern India, and western Bhutan. It is one of the only two species of salamanders found in India.

<i>Tylototriton anguliceps</i> Species of salamander

The angular-headed newt, also known as angular-headed crocodile newt, is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae from Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Its unique orange markings help to distinguish it from other species, and also gave it the nickname "Star-Trek newt", as it resembles the ridges on the head of the fictional Klingon species from the television show Star Trek.

Pachytriton inexpectatus is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is endemic to southern China and found in the Guizhou, Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi provinces. Its type locality is Mount Dayao of Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County, Guangxi. Prior to naming of this species in 2011, it was confused with Pachytriton labiatus. It is one of the several species that can appear in the pet trade as paddletail newt. The specific name inexpectatus is Latin meaning "unexpected" and refers to finding a species that is common in pet trade but lacked formal scientific description. Common name Yaoshan stout newt has been coined specifically for this species.

References

  1. 1 2 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Tylototriton kweichowensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T59484A63870946. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T59484A63870946.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Sparreboom, Max; Wu, Yunke. "Tylototriton kweichowensis Fang and Chang, 1932". Salamanders of China LifeDesk. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  3. "AmphibiaWeb - Tylototriton kweichowensis".