Chinese Fire-Bellied Newt
Cynops orientalis (David, 1873)
Range: Southern China (Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Anhui, Hubei)
Habitat: Freshwater Wetlands, Subtropical and Tropical Lowland Forest
Diet: Small aquatic invertebrates, amphibian larvae and eggs
Social Grouping: Loose groups
Reproduction: Breed in late spring and early summer, dependent on water temperature. Female lays up to 4 eggs on aquatic plants beneath the surface of the water, sometimes folding the leaf to conceal the egg. Multiple clutches may be laid per breeding season. Eggs hatch after 13-24 days
Lifespan: 12 Years
Conservation Status: IUCN Least Concern
- 5-10 centimeters long. Males are smaller and thinner than females with a shorter tail, higher caudal fin. Head is large and rounded
- Dorsal surface is very dark, sometimes almost black. Ventral surface is bright red or orange, interlaced with black. Stomach and tail are presented as a warning to predators
- Excrete a mild toxin from their skin as a defense against predators. Generally not a significant threat to humans, but could be dangerous in large quantities. The skin secretions are used to treat itching or burning in traditional medicine. Zoo and aquarium specimens seem to lose their toxicity
- In local folklore, believed to have the power to bring the rains
- Taxonomy of newts of the genus Cynops is somewhat muddled - not sure how many species there are, whether the Chinese and Japanese newts should be in separate genus, etc. Some possibility that the newts seen in US and European zoos are actually hybrids
- Locally abundant in the wild, but potential for decline due to use of herbicides and pesticides in agriculture. Some collection for the pet trade
- Specimens have been found in southern and central Florida, possibly in numbers that could indicate they have become established and are breeding. Commonly kept as a pet or laboratory animal
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