''Tylototriton shanjing'', the emperor newt, Mandarin newt or Mandarin salamander, is a highly toxic

newt A newt is a salamander in the subfamily Pleurodelinae. The terrestrial juvenile phase is called an eft. Unlike other members of the family Salamandridae, newts are semiaquatic, alternating between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Not all aqua ...

native to China.

Description

''Tylototriton shanjing'' can grow up to long. It has a ridged

orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower *Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum * ...

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 and legs are entirely orange. The shade of the orange can be variable.torontozoo.com (); accessed 9/18/06 File:Emperornewt2.jpg File:Emperor newt yunnan china.jpg File:Emperor Newt (2221580367).jpg

Defense

''Tylototriton shanjing'' 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. 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. Although poisonous, these newts are generally safe for human handling provided that they are handled carefully and gently.

Range and habitat

Emperor newts live in central, western, and southern

Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the C ...

, China, between 1000 to 2500 metres above sea level. They inhabit pools and slow-moving streams in subtropical forests.tylototriton.org (); Accessed 2/7/07

Diet

The emperor newt usually eats small invertebrates in its environment, such as crickets and worms. Emperor newts in captivity are typically given wax worms, crickets, and earth worms.

Taxonomy

For a long time, emperor newts were classified together with the

Himalayan newt ''Tylototriton verrucosus'' is a species of newt found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Common names include: Himalayan newt, crocodile newt, crocodile salamander, Himalayan salamander, red knobby newt. Description This newt can ...

(''T. verrucosus'').

References

External links

* http://reptilopolis.kanak.fr/urodeles-f24/tylotriton-shanjingnussbaum-brodie-et-yang-1995-t196.htm {{Taxonbar, from=Q1951353 shanjing Endemic fauna of China Amphibians described in 1995