Tylototriton anguliceps

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Tylototriton anguliceps
T.anguliceps.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Tylototriton
Species:
T. anguliceps
Binomial name
Tylototriton anguliceps
Le, Nguyen, Nishikawa, Nguyen, Pham, Matsui, Bernardes & Nguyen, 2015

The angular-headed newt (Tylototriton anguliceps), 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" or "Klingon newt", as it resembles the ridges on the head of the fictional Klingon species from the television show Star Trek.

Contents

Distribution

The range of Tylototriton anguliceps Tylototriton-anguliceps-range-map.jpg
The range of Tylototriton anguliceps

The angular-headed newt can be found inhabiting three different countries: Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. [2] It was initially discovered in Mường Nhé District and Thuận Châu District in Vietnam and Doi Lahnga, a mountain in the Chiang Mai Province in Thailand, in 2015. [3] While there have yet to be any findings in other countries, there is speculation that the salamander may also inhabit southern China and western Myanmar. It is one of only four known species in the Tylototriton genus to inhabit Laos. [4]

Habitat and ecology

The Tylototriton genus is mainly found in Asian countries, centered in Thailand, Vietnam, and Lao. Tylototriton anguliceps is centrally located in western Vietnam and northeastern Thailand. All of these locations have in common that they are high in elevation ranging from about 1,300- 1,800m, some even higher. Tylototriton anguliceps seems to prefer tropical and subtropical moist forest as it is mostly found in under these conditions in their perspective countries. Specifically, they are often localized in forest of broad leaves, also known as a forest which is dominated by evergreen vegetation. When Tylototriton anguliceps have been spotted, they mostly have under rocks, rotting wood, and even in water areas after rainfall. A forest land type would be humid and dense, with a lot of green plant life and moss growth being predominant. Secondly, a wetland habitat, including rivers, streams, and creeks are suitable for the sustainment of the species. This species depends entirely on a forest land type. These habitats are high in rainfall all year long, being the most ideal conditions for Tylototriton anguliceps.

Morphology

Adults have a dark-brown to black color, with bright orange heads, limbs, tails, and markings, as well as prominent dorsal and dorsolateral ridges on the head, distinguishing the species from other species. They have four fingers and five toes that all lack webbing. Males tend to be smaller than females, but have more robust limbs. The snout length is larger as well in females, ranging from 65.4mm - 74.1mm in females, and 61.1 - 62.5 in males. [5]

Klingon (1305760507).jpg
Klingon, a species from Star Trek
T.anguliceps.jpg
Illustration of T. anguliceps

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-tailed knobby newt</span> Species of salamander

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Tylototriton notialis, also known as the Laos knobby newt, southern crocodile newt, or Khammouan crocodile newt, is a species of newt in the family Salamandridae. It is only known from Khammouane province, central Laos. The Vietnamese record has been described as a new species, Tylototriton thaiorum.

<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.

Tylototriton panhai is a newt found in Thailand and Laos. It was recently distinguished from Tylototriton shanjing by Nishikawa et al., 2013.

Tylototriton uyenoi, the Chiang Mai crocodile newt, is a newt endemic to Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. It was distinguished from Tylototriton shanjing, the emperor newt, in 2013. The species was named in honor of herpetologist Shun-ichi Ueno. T. uyenoi is one of the few salamander species endemic to Thailand.

<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.

Tylototriton ngoclinhensis, the Ngoc Linh crocodile newt, is a species of crocodile newt native to the Central Highlands region of Vietnam. First discovered in 2018, it was described as a new species in 2023. Due to its small range, the newt is considered to be threatened and it has been proposed for it to be classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List.

References

  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2016). "Tylototriton anguliceps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T79427218A88441865. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T79427218A88441865.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. Hernandez, Axel & Escoriza, Daniel & Pomchote, Porrawee & HOU, Mian. (2019). New localities for Tylototriton uyenoi, T. panhai and T. anguliceps in Thailand with remarks on the southernmost distribution of the genus. Herpetological Bulletin. 147. 9-12. 10.33256/hj147.912.
  3. Dzung Trung Le, Tao Thien Nguyen, Kanto Nishikawa, Son Lan Hung Nguyen, Anh Van Pham, Masafumi Matsui, Marta Bernardes, Truong Quang Nguyen "A New Species of Tylototriton Anderson, 1871 (Amphibia: Salamandridae) from Northern Indochina," Current Herpetology, 34(1), 38-50, (1 February 2015)
  4. Phimmachak, Somphouthone & Aowphol, Anchalee & Stuart, Bryan. (2015). Morphological and molecular variation in Tylototriton (Caudata: Salamandridae) in Laos, with description of a new species. Zootaxa. 4006. 285-310.
  5. AmphibiaWeb 2020 Tylototriton anguliceps: Angular-headed newt http://amphibiaweb.org/species/8316 University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Oct 30, 2020.