The Chinese fire belly newt (''Cynops orientalis'') is a small () black newt, with bright-orange aposematic coloration on their ventral sides. ''C. orientalis'' is commonly seen in pet stores, where it is frequently confused with the

Japanese fire belly newt The Japanese fire-bellied newt or Japanese fire-bellied salamander (''Cynops pyrrhogaster'') is a species of newt endemic to Japan. The skin on its upper body is dark, while its lower regions are bright red, although coloration varies with age, ...

(''C. pyrrhogaster'') due to similarities in size and coloration. ''C. orientalis'' typically exhibits smoother skin and a rounder tail than ''C. pyrrhogaster'', and has less obvious parotoid glands.

Toxicology

Chinese fire belly newts are mildly poisonous and excrete toxins through their skin. Consisting primarily of

tetrodotoxin Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin. Its name derives from Tetraodontiformes, an order that includes pufferfish, porcupinefish, ocean sunfish, and triggerfish; several of these species carry the toxin. Although tetrodotoxin was discovere ...

s, newts of the genus ''Cynops'' pose a medically significant threat if enough toxins are consumed, and toxins may cause numbness or irritation on skin contact.

Gallery

File:Cynops orientalis - Chinesischer Feuerbauchmolch.jpg, Underside Cynops orientalis.JPG, Underwater Chinese_Fire_Bellied_Newts.JPG, A pair Cynops orientalis biofluorescence - 41598 2020 59528 Fig2-bottom (cropped).png, Biofluorescence

Toxicology

Gallery

See also

References

Further reading