Fuding Fire Bellied Newt

Small newt, with a total maximum length of 7-9 cm. Head shape oval in dorsal view. Snout truncate, projects slightly beyond mandible. Nostril on snout tip; eye large. Labial fold well developed. Inconspicuous longitudinal ridge posterior to each eye. Skull relatively narrow. Parotoid gland poorly developed. Gular fold usually absent. Skin finely granulated, venter and underside of limbs smooth. Vertebral ridge elevated and conspicuous. Four fingers and five toes, no webbing. Tail laterally compressed, tapers posteriorly; caudal fin distinct; tail tip bluntly pointed in female, rounded in male (Wu et al. 2010).Male smaller than female; the tail is shorter in the male than in the female. In the reproductive season, males have a wider and more swollen cloaca (Wu et al. 2010). Colour is dark-brown to lighter brown above; obscure black flecks on head and back. Vertebral ridge dark orange. Ventral colour ranges from yellowish orange to reddish orange. Number and position of ventral black dots vary among individuals; some specimens have black dots on the chin. The holotype has an orange dot on dorsal side of forelimb base, which is not present in all individuals; base of first digits of forelimbs and hind limbs light orange. Orange red on cloaca, continuing to underside of tail. Posterior limit of cloaca may be black (Wu et al. 2010).Diagnosis:Similar to C. orientalis and C. orphicus but differs both genetically and morphologically from these species. Morphologically it is distinct in having a proportionately shorter trunk, longer tail, longer head and longer limbs than C. orientalis. It resembles C. orphicus morphologically in having finely granulated skin, a conspicuous vertebral ridge, and black spots on the tail, but has a proportionately larger head, longer limbs and shorter trunk than C. orphicus. Venter and chin bright orange without dark blotches, but a few small black dots may be present; two dark ventral spots on the shoulder and axilla of each side, but spots from opposite sides do not connect at the midline; transverse black gular stripe absent; irregular spots on tail (Wu et al. 2010).For a map, see the original account (used with permission) at the website Salamanders of the Old World (http://www.science.naturalis.nl/hosted-sites/salamanders/salamanders-of-the-old-world/species-list/cynops/fudingensis).

Cynops fudingensis is thus far only known from the Mt. Taimu region in Fuding, a coastal mountain in northeastern Fujian Province, China. The range of this species is situated between the southernmost occurrences of C. orientalis and the northernmost locality of C. orphicus (Wu et al. 2010; Fei et al. 2006).The habitat at the type locality is described as small, still-water puddles and ditches of a deserted agricultural field on a hillside, about 1 km from Mt. Taimu. The water is shallow and clear, with abundant aquatic plants and arthropods. The aquatic substrate is composed of soft earth and decomposing vegetation. Weeds grow densely in the field (Wu et al. 2010).

Adult newts were found active during daytime, crawling on the bottom of the puddles and ditches (Wu et al. 2010).

Given this species’ isolated occurrence, it is probably vulnerable to habitat destruction associated with tourism, introduction of invasive predators and collection by hobbyists (Wu et al. 2010).

The Fuding fire belly newt (Cynops fudingensis) is a rare species of newt in the family Salamandridae, endemic to China. It is only known from Fuding in northeastern Fujian, from the locality where it was described as a new species in 2010. Although it is genetically similar to the Chinese fire belly newt (C. orientalis), it is morphologically more similar to the Dayang fire belly newt (C. orphicus). The range of C. fudingensis is separate from both other species.

A revised taxonomy of Salamandridae places this species (together with all other Chinese species of Cynops) in genus Hypselotriton.

Cynops fudingensis is a small newt, usually less than 100 mm (3.9 in) in total length. The population from which the species was described lives in small, still-water puddles and ditches of a deserted agricultural field on a hillside near Taimushan (Mt. Taimu), west of Fuding City. Another nearby population may already be extinct. The species is not known from elsewhere, and the known population is threatened by habitat destruction associated with tourism, introduced predators (such as bullfrogs and red-eared slider turtles), and collection by herpetological hobbyists.

Reproduction requires the presence of a larger group of newts. Eggs are laid in April and are wrapped singly in leaves of water plants.