Description

Cynops ensicauda has a snout-to-vent length of 53-77 mm and a total length of 103-179 mm. Its dorsal surfaces are generally black or very dark brown and its ventral surface is orangish red. The soles of its feet are the same color as its belly. Some individuals may have stripes or splotches of the ventral color on the back or head. Many individuals, especially those living in sunny locations, have lichenlike blotches here and there on the back and tail. The significance of these blotches is controversial, as they can disappear if the animal is kept in captivity under conditions of low light (Goris and Maeda 2004).

C. ensicauda is similar in appearance to C. pyrrhogaster but C. ensicauda is somewhat larger and has a longer, more slender tail. C. ensicauda can also be distinguished by the light color on the soles of its feet (Goris and Maeda 2004).