Japanese fire-bellied newt

rdf:langString Japanese fire-bellied newt

rdf:langString

rdf:langString Middle Miocene – Present

rdf:langString Cynops

rdf:langString Female Japanese fire-bellied newt

rdf:langString Fire-bellied newt range.png

rdf:langString pyrrhogaster

rdf:langString NT

rdf:langString IUCN3.1

rdf:langString see [[#Taxonomy

rdf:langString 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, genetics, and region. Adults are 8 to 15 cm (3.1 to 5.9 in) long. To deter predators, Japanese fire-bellied newts contain high levels of tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxin which is accumulated mainly from their diet. They are found on many Japanese islands, including Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Their habitats include both natural and artificial bodies of water, as well as forests and grasslands. They breed from spring to the beginning of summer, both sexes producing pheromones when ready to mate. Eggs are laid separately, hatching after about three weeks. They grow from larval to juvenile form in between five and six months. Juveniles eat soil-dwelling prey, while adults eat a wide variety of insects, tadpoles, and the eggs of their own species. They have multiple adaptations to avoid predators, although which they use depends on where they live. Several aspects of their biology have been studied, including their ability to regrow missing body parts. The Japanese fire-bellied newt first diverged from its closest relative in the Middle Miocene, before splitting into four distinct varieties, each with a mostly separate range, although all four are formally recognized as composing a single species. Currently, their population is declining, and they face threats from disease and the pet trade. They can be successfully kept in captivity.