Emperor newt
Latin Name
Tylototriton shanjing
Class
Amphibians
Order
Caudata
Description
Tylototriton shanjing
Class
Amphibians
Order
Caudata
Description
These small creatures (which fit in the palm of your hand) are recognizable by the orange nodes that dot their backs and sides, in addition to their signature orange tails. Males are smaller than females.
Range
Status
Habitat
Niche
Life History
Special Adaptations
Emperor newts reside in the mountains of western China, Burma, India, Thailand and Nepal.
Status
This species is near the threatened status.
Habitat
They occupy small pools in cool woodlands and forests near slow-moving water.
Niche
These newts prey on worms and insects such as crickets. Some animals prey on emperor newts, though poisonous glands dissuade most potential predators.
Life History
Also known as the Mandarin salamander, the emperor newt mates in rice paddies and marshes during the rainy season. After collecting sperm from the male, the female will lay as many as 100 eggs, which attach to nearby vegetation until hatching.
Special Adaptations
- Thick bones (particularly in the skull) serve as defense for the emperor newt.
- Those orange nodes on the newt's back are venom glands, which produce toxin that is highly lethal to small animals.
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