Neurergus crocatus, the yellow-spotted newt,[3] Azerbaijan newt, Azerbaijan mountain newt, mountain newt, or Lake Urmia newt, is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It occurs in the mountains west of Lake Urmia, in northwestern Iran, northeastern Iraq, and southeastern Turkey.[1][4][5][a]
| Neurergus crocatus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Salamandridae |
| Genus: | Neurergus |
| Species: | N. crocatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Neurergus crocatus | |
Description
editNeurergus crocatus grow to about 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) in total length; the tail is longer than the body (i.e., tail length>snout–vent length). The head is flattened and longer than it is wide. The snout is rounded. The body is slender and almost round, without a dorsal ridge. The tail is rounded at the base and laterally compressed towards its tip. The tail has moderately developed dorsal and ventral fins. The limbs are well-developed; the digits are thick and flat. Colouration is dorsally dark brown to black with yellow, rounded but somewhat irregular blotches; these continue on the tail. The ventral surfaces are orange-red in males and yellowish in females.[5] They can live for between 12-15 years in captivity, and usually reach sexual maturity in four years.[6][7]
Habitat and conservation
editNeurergus crocatus breed in montane streams at elevations of 1,500–2,000 m (4,900–6,600 ft) above sea level; after the breeding season, adults disperse to the surrounding areas, but their specific microhabitats are unknown. This species is probably threatened by habitat loss, caused by for example new dams.[1]
Notes
edit- ^ Despite its vernacular names, this species does not occur in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Instead, "Azerbaijan" here refers to the Azerbaijan region of Iran.
References
edit- ^ a b c Papenfuss, T.; Sparreboom, M.; Ugurtas, I.H.; Rastegar-Pouyani, N.; Kuzmin, S.; Anderson, S.; Eken, G.; Kiliç, T.; Gem, E.; Kaya, U. (2016) [errata version of 2009 assessment]. "Neurergus crocatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T14734A86247230. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ^ Cope, E. D. (1862). "Notes upon some reptiles of the Old World". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 14: 343–344. JSTOR 4059481.
- ^ Schultschick, Günter (2002–2004). "Neurergus crocatus Yellow Spotted Newt". Caudata Culture. Information about salamanders and their captive care. Translated by Jennifer Macke & Ralf Reinartz. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
- ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2021). "Neurergus crocatus Cope, 1862". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001.
- ^ a b Sparreboom, Max (2014). Salamanders of the Old World. The Salamanders of Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. Zeist: KNNV Publishing. pp. 256–258. ISBN 978-90-5011-4851.
- ^ "Lake Urmia Newts (Neurergus crocatus) For Sale - Underground Reptiles". undergroundreptiles.com. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ "Neurergus crocatus - Care-sheet". Salamanderland. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
Further reading
edit- Najafi-Majd, Elnaz & Kaya, Uğur (2013). "Rediscovery of the Lake Urmia newt, Neurergus crocatus Cope, 1862 (Caudata: Salamandridae) in northwestern Iran after 150 years" (PDF). Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 6 (4): 36–41.