Species Fact Profile: Kaiser Newt (Neurergus kaiseri)

                                                           Kaiser (Luristan) Newt

                                                       Neurergus kaiseri (Schmidt, 1952)

Range: Zagros Mountains (Iran)

Habitat:  Highland Streams and Pools, Arid Woodland

Diet: Small Invertebrates

Social Grouping: Asocial/Loosely Social

Reproduction: Breeding takes place in March or April, courtship taking place on land near water, with males fanning their tails to spread pheromones'.  Male deposits a sperm packet and guides the female over it to pick up in her cloaca.  Up t0 60 eggs laid in the water attached to a leaf.  Larva complete metamorphosis is 3-5 months.  Upon completed metamorphosis, move onto the land until they are ready to mate.  Mature at 2-4 years old

Lifespan: 10-15 Years

      Conservation Status: IUCN Vulnerable, CITES Appendix I

• Body length 10-14 centimeters.  Females are larger than males
• Primary color is black with a narrow stripe of red, orange, or yellow running gown the length of the back, several white spots on the sides and legs.  Bright coloration serves as a warning to potential predators that there are toxins in the skin
• During hot, dry summers, the newts may estivate underground to conserve moisture
• Very little studied in the wild, both due to rarity, limited range, and geopolitical relations between Iran and other countries.  Most knowledge of the species comes from a combination of work with captive animals and extrapolations from related salamander species
• Endangered due to extremely limited natural range, declining habitat (construction of dams may lead to localized droughts), and overcollection for the pet trade.  The species was previously listed as Critically Endangered, but recent estimates of the population indicate that there may be more individuals in the wild than were previously thought