Biology:Tylototriton ngoclinhensis

From HandWiki
Short description: Species of crocodile newt

Ngoc Linh crocodile newt
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Tylototriton
Species:
T. ngoclinhensis
Binomial name
Tylototriton ngoclinhensis
Phung, Pham, Nguyen, Ninh, Nguyen, Bernardes, Le, Ziegler & Nguyen, 2023

Tylototriton ngoclinhensis, the Ngoc Linh crocodile newt, is a species of crocodile newt native to the Central Highlands region of Vietnam.[1] First discovered in 2018, it was described as a new species in 2023.[2] Due to its small range, the newt is considered to be threatened and it has been proposed for it to be classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List.[3]

Distribution

Tylototriton ngoclinhensis is the eighth taxon of Tylototriton to be described in Vietnam,[3] but the first to be recorded in its Central Highlands region.[1] The range of T. ngoclinhensis is limited and is currently thought to be restricted to montane forests near water bodies on Ngọc Linh.[3] This means that T. ngoclinhensis has the southernmost range of all members of Tylototriton in Asia.[3] The habitat of T. ngoclinhensis is located at an altitude of 1,800 to 2,300 meters above sea level, the highest among crocodile newts.[4]

Description

Tylototriton ngoclinhensis is a moderate-sized and robust species of newt, with a snout-vent length ranging from 60.8 to 66.5 mm in males and 72.5-75.6 mm in females.[3] Tail lengths range from 57.6 to 61.8 mm in males and 62.9–67.9 mm in females.[3] Males are thought to be smaller than females.

The body of T. ngoclinhensis is black with orange-red markings covering its head, tail, limbs, and vertebral ridge.[5] In addition, a black line is present which runs from the shoulder to the eye.[6] Secondary sex characteristics are present in the species. The cloaca of males are known to have a longer slit than those of females.[3] In addition, the inner cloacal walls of males contain papilla, whereas females do not have papilla inside their inner cloacal walls.[3]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q120920264 entry