Emperor newt

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Emperor Newt, Mandarin Salamander or Mandarin Crocodile Newt
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Tylototriton
Species: T. shanjing
Binomial name
Tylototriton shanjing


The Emperor newt (Tylototriton shanjing) is a newt native to southeast Asia.

Contents

[edit] Description

The Emperor newt, also known as the Mandarin newt or Mandarin Salamander, can grow up to 8 inches long. It has a ridged orange head from which a single orange ridge runs along its back. This ridge is lined with two parallel rows of orange bumps on a black background. The tail is entirely orange. Its legs are also orange. The shade of the orange can be variable.[1]

[edit] Range and Habitat

Emperor newts live in the high mountain province of Yunnan, China, between 1,000 and 2,500 feet above sea level.[2] They inhabit pools and slow-moving streams in subtropical forests.[3]

[edit] Defense

The Emperor newt might seem like easy prey because of its bright coloration. However, it is generally nocturnal, and the top of its vertebrae and skull have especially thick bone.[1] Additionally, the orange warts on its back are poison glands, and when the newt is grabbed, the tips of the ribs will squeeze out poison from the glands. Emperor newts have enough toxin to kill approximately 7,500 mice. [4][5] Although some of them would have poison, you can feel free to handle it because it is not an aggressive animal.

[edit] Classification

For a long time Emperor Newts were classified together with the Himalayan Newt (T. verrucosus).

[edit] Diet

The Emperor Newt usually eat small insects in their environment for example crickets, worms etc. Emperor Newts are fed with wax worms, crickets, earth worms etc. if they are kept as a pet.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b torontozoo.com [1]; accessed 9/18/06
  2. ^ livingunderworld.com [2]; Accessed 11/4/06
  3. ^ tylototriton.org [3]; Accessed 2/7/07
  4. ^ detroitzoo.com [4]; accessed 9/18/06
  5. ^ Caudata.org [5] Accessed 1/10/07

[edit] External links