Jesper, to my knowledge still no valid subspecies has been described for
Cynops pyrrhogaster. Here is some info given on the Cynops-pages on Paul Bachhausens "Salamanderseiten" (
www.salamanderseiten.de).
According to research by the Japanese HAYASHI work-group Sasayama is no valid subspecies but a phenotype occuring in a crossbreeding zone of neighbouring pyrrhogaster-groups. However, this is still debated among scientists and hobbyists. The following genetically distinct groups could be identified by the methods that were applied:
-Northeastern Group
(complying with the former so-called Tohuko race).
- Kanto Group
(former Kanto race)
- Intermediary Form
(includes the former intermediary form as well as the former Atsumi and Sasayama-races)
- Western Japanese Group
(complies with most of the former Hiroshima race)
- Southern Kyushu Group)
(complies with a small area within the southernmost distribution of the former Hiroshima race).
References:
Hayashi, T. & Matsui, M. (1988), Biochemical differentiation in Japanese newts, genus Cynops (Salamandridae), Zoological Science
Hayashi, T. & M. Matsui (1990): Genetic differentiations within and between two local races of the Japanese newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster, in eastern Japan. – Herpetologica 46: 423-430
Still a lot of research to be concucted I suppose and still no definite answers concerning the subspecies status of some pyrrhogaster forms, sorry Jesper. From my own experience I can say that the various forms can be very different concerning phenotype and behaviour. Also I have not observed any "phenotype-splitting" within the offspring of my C.p.s. so far. However, one has to keep in mind that one keeps groups of individuals that do not provide an actual overview of the wild populations.
