''Tylototriton ziegleri'', also known as Ziegler's crocodile newt or Ziegler's knobby newt, is a species of newt in the family

Salamandridae Salamandridae is a family of salamanders consisting of true salamanders and newts. Salamandrids are distinguished from other salamanders by the lack of rib or costal grooves along the sides of their bodies and by their rough skin. Their skin is v ...

. It is currently known from Hà Giang and Cao Bằng provinces in northern Vietnam, although its actual range probably wider; there is a photograph to suggest it also occurs in Lào Cai Province in Vietnam, and its range likely extends to Yunnan in southern China. Based on molecular genetic data, ''Tylototriton ziegleri'' belongs to the "'' Tylototriton asperrimus'' group" of newts. The

specific name Specific name may refer to: * in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules: * Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...

''ziegleri'' honours , a German herpetologist.

Description

The single known female is in snout–vent length (SVL); males are SVL. The head is wider than it is long and hexagonal in shape. The head has prominent dorsolateral bony ridges and a prominent but short middorsal ridge. The snout is short and truncate. The body is moderately stout and has prominent, segmented vertebral ridge as well as rows of distinct rib nodules, forming knob-like warts. The tail is laterally compressed and has a pointed tip; the tail length is about the same as SVL. The hands and feet are free of webbing. The dorsum is uniformly black; the

venter Venter or Venters is an Afrikaans (and rarely, Jewish) surname, and may refer to: Venter * AJ Venter (b. 1973), South African rugby union footballer * Al J Venter, author * André Venter (b. 1970), South African rugby union footballer * Ben Venter ...

is slightly lighter than the dorsum. The rib nodules, finger and toe tips, parts of soles and palms, anterior end of vent, and ventral ridge of tail are typically bright orange, with some individual variation in the orange markings. Tylototriton ziegleri Male1

Habitat and conservation

''Tylototriton ziegleri'' are known from bamboo-dominated subtropical evergreen forests at elevations of

above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as ''orthometric heights''. The comb ...

. Adults are largely terrestrial and hidden in refugia on the forest floor. The eggs clutches are laid on the ground near ponds in April–May. After hatching, the larvae crawl to the pond during rainy weather. Larvae do not overwinter but metamorphose after July. ''Tylototriton ziegleri'' is threatened by the degradation and loss of suitable habitat and breeding sites. It might also suffer from collection for the pet trade and traditional medicines. One of the known populations resides in the Pia Oac Nature Reserve. Its likely range overlaps with some other protected areas.

References

External links

* — history of the discovery explained {{Taxonbar, from=Q10751566 ziegleri Endemic fauna of Vietnam Amphibians of Vietnam Amphibians described in 2013