Asiatic salamander
Encyclopedia
The Asiatic Salamanders (Family Hynobiidae) are primitive salamander
s found all over Asia
, and in European Russia. They are closely related to the Giant Salamander
s (Family Cryptobranchidae), with which they form the suborder Cryptobranchoidea. About half of hynobiids are unique to Japan
(Hasumi 2002).
Hynobiid salamanders practice external fertilization, or spawning
. And, unlike other salamander families which reproduce internally, male hynobiids focus on egg sacs rather than females during breeding (Hasumi, 2002). The female lays two egg sacs at a time, each containing up to seventy eggs
. Parental care is common.
A few species have very reduced lungs, or no lungs at all. The tadpole
can sometimes have reduced external gill
s if they live in cold and very oxygen rich water.
are known. The following genera make up the Family Hynobiidae:
Subfamily Hynobiinae
Subfamily Protohynobiinae
Salamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
s found all over Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, and in European Russia. They are closely related to the Giant Salamander
Giant salamander
The hellbender and Asian giant salamanders are aquatic amphibians found in brooks and ponds in the United States, China, and Japan. They are the largest living amphibians known today...
s (Family Cryptobranchidae), with which they form the suborder Cryptobranchoidea. About half of hynobiids are unique to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(Hasumi 2002).
Hynobiid salamanders practice external fertilization, or spawning
Spawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
. And, unlike other salamander families which reproduce internally, male hynobiids focus on egg sacs rather than females during breeding (Hasumi, 2002). The female lays two egg sacs at a time, each containing up to seventy eggs
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
. Parental care is common.
A few species have very reduced lungs, or no lungs at all. The tadpole
Tadpole
A tadpole or polliwog is the wholly aquatic larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog or toad.- Appellation :...
can sometimes have reduced external gill
Gill
A gill is a respiratory organ found in many aquatic organisms that extracts dissolved oxygen from water, afterward excreting carbon dioxide. The gills of some species such as hermit crabs have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are kept moist...
s if they live in cold and very oxygen rich water.
Classification
Currently, 54 speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are known. The following genera make up the Family Hynobiidae:
Subfamily Hynobiinae
- Genus BatrachuperusBatrachuperusBatrachuperus is a genus of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It contains the following species:* Batrachuperus karlschmidti* Longdong Stream Salamander * Batrachuperus taibaiensis...
(Chinese Stream Salamanders)- Batrachuperus karlschmidtiBatrachuperus karlschmidtiBatrachuperus karlschmidti is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitat is rivers.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Feng, X. 2004. . Downloaded on 22 July 2007....
- Longdong Stream SalamanderLongdong Stream SalamanderThe Longdong Stream Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitats are rivers and freshwater springs.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
(Batrachuperus londongensis) - Batrachuperus taibaiensisBatrachuperus taibaiensisBatrachuperus taibaiensis is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitat is rivers.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Feng, X. 2004. . Downloaded on 22 July 2007....
- Alpine Stream SalamanderAlpine Stream SalamanderThe Alpine Stream Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitats are rivers and freshwater springs.It is threatened by habitat loss.- References :...
(Batrachuperus tibetanus) - Yenyuan Stream SalamanderYenyuan Stream SalamanderThe Yenyuan Stream Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitats are rivers, freshwater lakes, and freshwater marshes.It is threatened by habitat loss....
(Batrachuperus yenyuanensis) - Western Chinese mountain salamanderWestern Chinese mountain salamanderThe Western Chinese mountain salamander is known in Chinese legend as the White Dragon. During the 16th century, a Chinese author documented its presence at the Omei mountain in the province of Sichuan...
(Batrachuperus pinchonii)
- Batrachuperus karlschmidti
- Genus HynobiusHynobiusHynobius or Asian Salamanders is a genus of salamander in the Hynobiidae family, endemic to Japan, Korea, China and Far East Russia.It contains the following species:-Species:...
- (Asian Salamanders)- Abe's SalamanderAbe's SalamanderThe Abe's Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, freshwater marshes, and freshwater springs.It is threatened by habitat loss....
(Hynobius abei) - Amji's salamanderHynobius amjiensisHynobius amjiensis is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitats are swamps and freshwater marshes.It is threatened by habitat loss.- Source :...
(Hynobius amjiensis) - Arisian salamanderHynobius arisanensisHynobius arisanensis is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Taiwan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, and freshwater springs.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
(Hynobius arisanensis) - Odaigahara SalamanderOdaigahara SalamanderThe Odaigahara Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, and freshwater springs.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
(Hynobius boulengeri) - Chinese salamanderHynobius chinensisHynobius chinensis is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, freshwater marshes, freshwater springs, and arable land....
(Hynobius chinensis) - Oita SalamanderOita SalamanderThe Oita Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, and irrigated land.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Kaneko, Y. &...
(Hynobius dunni) - Formosan SalamanderHynobius formosanusHynobius formosanus is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Taiwan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, and freshwater springs.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
(Hynobius formosanus) - Taiwan Lesser SalamanderTaiwan Lesser SalamanderThe Taiwan Lesser Salamanader is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Taiwan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, and freshwater springs.-Source:...
(Hynobius fuca) - Guabangshan SalamanderHynobius guabangshanensisHynobius guabangshanensis is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitats are temperate shrubland, swamps, freshwater marshes, and seasonally flooded agricultural land.It is threatened by habitat loss....
(Hynobius guabangshanensis) - Hakuba SalamanderHakuba SalamanderThe Hakuba Salamander or Japanese Mountain Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family...
(Hynobius hidamontanus) - Akaishi SalamanderHynobius katoiHynobius katoi is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and rivers.-References:* Stuart, S.N. 2006. . Downloaded on 22 July 2007....
(Hynobius katoi) - Hida SalamanderHida SalamanderThe Hida Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and rivers.-References:* Kaneko, Y. & Matsui, M. 2004....
(Hynobius kimurae) - Korean salamanderKorean salamanderThe Korean salamander is the most common species of salamander on the Korean peninsula, and is also found in adjacent portions of China and on Jeju Island...
(Hynobius leechii) - Tohoku SalamanderTohoku SalamanderThe Tohoku Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and rivers.-References:...
(Hynobius lichenatus) - Liaoning SalamanderLiaoning SalamanderThe Liaoning Salamander was a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.As of March 2003, it is no longer considered a species.-Source:* . Downloaded on 20 September 2009....
(Hynobius mantschuriensis) - Xingan salamanderXingan salamanderThe Xingan salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitats are marshes, forests and seasonal ponds.It is threatened by habitat loss and climate change.-Source:...
(Hynobius maoershanensis) - Buchi SalamanderHynobius naeviusThe Spotted Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and rivers.-References:...
(Hynobius naevius) - Japanese Clouded Salamander (Hynobius nebulosus)
- Japanese Black SalamanderJapanese Black SalamanderThe Japanese Black Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate grassland, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marches, irrigated land, and canals and ditches.-References:* Kaneko, Y. &...
(Hynobius nigrescens) - Oki SalamanderOki SalamanderThe Oki Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, and plantations .It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
(Hynobius okiensis) - Jeju salamanderJeju salamanderThe 'Jeju salamander', also spelled Cheju salamander, Hynobius quelpaertensis, is a species of salamander found on various islands and peninsulas off the southwestern coast of the Korean Peninsula, including Jindo, Geojedo, Jejudo, and Namhae. It inhabits moist mountain forests.Jeju salamanders...
(Hynobius quelpaertensis) - Ezo SalamanderEzo SalamanderThe Ezo Salamander or Hokkaido Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan....
(Hynobius retardus) - Sonan's SalamanderHynobius sonaniHynobius sonani is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Taiwan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and rivers.It is threatened by habitat loss.- Source :...
(Hynobius sonani) - Amber SalamanderAmber-coloured SalamanderThe Amber-coloured Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and rivers.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
(Hynobius stejnegeri) - Hokuriku SalamanderHokuriku SalamanderThe Hokuriku Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, freshwater marshes, freshwater springs, and irrigated land....
(Hynobius takedai) - Mountain Salamander (Hynobius tenuis)
- Tokyo SalamanderTokyo SalamanderThe Tokyo Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, freshwater springs, arable land, irrigated land, and canals and ditches....
(Hynobius tokyoensis) - Tsushima SalamanderTsushima SalamanderThe Tsushima Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and rivers.-References:...
(Hynobius tsuensis) - Turkestanian SalamanderTurkestanian SalamanderThe Turkestanian Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is found in possibly Kyrgyzstan, possibly Tajikistan, and possibly Uzbekistan. Several specimens were collected in 1909, but since then the species has not been seen in the wild. None remain in captivity...
(Hynobius turkestanicus) - Kori salamanderKori salamanderThe Kori salamander is a species of lentic breeding salamander found in southeastern South Korea. It is similar to the Korean salamander but is distinguished by factors including tail shape and dorsal coloration.The Kori salamander takes its name from Go-ri, a village in Hyoam-ri, Jangan-eup,...
(Hynobius yangi) - Yiwu SalamanderHynobius yiwuensisHynobius yiwuensis is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marches, arable land, and rural gardens.It is threatened by habitat...
(Hynobius yiwuensis) - Yunan SalamanderHynobius yunanicusHynobius yunanicus was a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family. According to the work of Jian-Li Xiong et all, this salamander has been genetically proven to be synonymous to Pachyhynobius shangchengensis.It is endemic to China....
(Hynobius yunanicus)
- Abe's Salamander
- Genus LiuaLiuaLiua or Wushan salamanders is a genus of salamander in the Hynobiidae family, endemic to China. It contains only two species.-Species:*Wushan Salamander - ....
(Wushan salamanders)- Wushan SalamanderWushan SalamanderThe Wushan Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family. It is synonymous with Ranodon shihi.It is endemic to China....
(Liua Shihi) - Tsinpa SalamanderTsinpa SalamanderThe Tsinpa Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family. It is synonymous with Ranodon tsinpaensis and is endemic to China.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes and rivers....
(Liua tsinpaensis)
- Wushan Salamander
- Genus Onychodactylus (clawed salamanders)
- Chinese clawed salamanderLong-tailed salamanderThe Long-Tailed Clawed Salamander , Onychodactylus fischeri, is a species of clawed salamander found in Northeast Asia. It ranges through northeastern China, the Russian Far East, and the Korean Peninsula, but is only sporadically distributed within this range...
(Onychodactylus fischeri) - Japanese Clawed SalamanderJapanese Clawed SalamanderThe Japanese Clawed Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Japan.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and rivers.-References:...
(Onychodactylus japonicus)
- Chinese clawed salamander
- Genus Pachyhynobius (Stout salamanders)
- Shangcheng stout salamanderPachyhynobius shangchengensisPachyhynobius shangchengensis, also known as the Shancheng Stout Salamander, is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Pachyhynobius. It is endemic to China. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical...
(Pachyhynobius shangchengensis)
- Shangcheng stout salamander
- Genus ParadactylodonParadactylodonParadactylodon known as the Mountain salamanders or Middle-Eastern Stream salamanders is a genus of salamander in the Hynobiidae family, endemic to Iran and Afghanistan.It contains the following species:...
(Middile eastern Stream Salamanders)- Gorgan SalamanderGorgan SalamanderThe Gorgan Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to Iran.Its natural habitats are freshwater springs, inland karsts, and caves.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
(Paradactylodon gorganensis) - Persian Mountain Salamander (Paradactylodon persicus)
- Pagham stream salamanderPagham stream salamanderThe Paghman stream salamander or the Afghani brook salamander is a salamander endemic to Afghanistan. It inhabits cool highland streams. The total population is estimated to 1,000–2,000 adults. It is only found in an area of 10 km².-References:* Smith, 1940. . . Downloaded on 15 November...
(Paradactylodon mustersi)
- Gorgan Salamander
- Genus PseudohynobiusPseudohynobiusPseudohynobius known as the Asian salamanders is a genus of salamander in the Hynobiidae family and is endemic to China.It contains the following species:*Yellow-spotted Salamander...
- Yellow-spotted SalamanderYellow-spotted SalamanderThe Yellow-spotted Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to the Nanchuan, Sichuan, Suiyang, Guizhou, Lichuan, Hubei, Sangzhi and Hunan provinces in China.-Source:...
(Pseudohynobius flavomaculatus) - Jinfo Mountain SalamanderJinfo Mountain SalamanderThe Jinfo Mountain Salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitats are ponds.-Source:...
(Pseudohynobius jinfo) - Kuankuoshui SalamanderKuankuoshui SalamanderThe Kuakuoshui salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, streams, and pools.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
(Pseudohynobius kuankuoshuiensis) - Shuicheng SalamanderShuicheng SalamanderThe Shuicheng salamander is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitats include temperate forests, streams, ponds, and pools.It is threatened by habitat loss....
(Pseudohynobius shiuchengensis)
- Yellow-spotted Salamander
- Genus RanodonRanodonRanodon is a monotypic genus of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It currently contains only one species:* Central Asian Salamander Formerly in this genus:* Wushan Salamander - now in Liua...
(Semirichensk salamanders)- Central Asian SalamanderCentral Asian SalamanderThe Central Asian Salamander or Semirechensk Salamander is a species of salamander in the monotypic genus of the Hynobiidae family....
(Ranodon sibiricus)
- Central Asian Salamander
- Genus SalamandrellaSalamandrellaThe Dybowski's Siberian Salamander group or Salamandrella is a genus of salamander in the Hynobiidae family.It contains the following species:* Siberian Salamander...
(Siberian Salamanders)- Siberian salamanderSiberian salamanderThe Siberian salamander, Salamandrella keyserlingii, is a species of salamander found in Northeast Asia. It is found primarily in Siberia, in wet woods and riparian groves. There are also outlying populations in northern Kazakhstan and Mongolia, and also in northeastern China and on the Korean...
(Salamandrella kyserlingii) - Primorye NewtPrimorye NewtThe Primorye Newt is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family. It is endemic to Khabarovsk.-Source:*Sparreboom, Max. . Downloaded 23 January 2010....
(Salamandrella tridactyla)
- Siberian salamander
Subfamily Protohynobiinae
- Genus Protohynobius
- Puxiong salamanderProtohynobius puxiongensisProtohynobius puxiongensis is a species of salamander in the Hynobiidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Protohynobius which is monotypic to the subfamily Protohynobiinae.It is endemic to China....
( Protohynobis puxiongensis)
- Puxiong salamander