Cynops cyanurus

[TJ]

I recently saw a 1993 book called Rare and Economic Amphibians of China (all in Chinese), which mentioned 2 subspecies of Cynops cyanurus: C.c.cyanurus and C.c.chuxiongensis. First, I thought the latter could simply be a different romanization used for chenggongensis, but Cynops chenggongensis is listed in the book as a separate species. Any confirmation on there being two distinct subspecies?

 

[aaron]

C. c. chuxiongensis and C. chenggongensis are indeed different animals.

C. c. chuxiongensis has this type locality:
Cynops cyanurus chuxiongensis Fei and Ye, 1983 [Dec.], Acta Herpetol. Sinica, N.S., 2(4): 55. Holotype: CIB 800257. Type locality: "Chuxiong County, Yunnan [Province], 2,400 m.", China,


C.Chenggongensis are only known from this type locality:
Cynops chenggongensis Kou and Xing, 1983, Acta Herpetol. Sinica, N.S., 2(4): 51. Holotype: YU A824008. Type locality: "Chenggong County, Yunnan Province, alt. 1940 m.", China.


I've also just oncovered this cyanurus subspecies, and was quite suprised as I only knew of two in the past. Cynops cyanurus yunnanensis Yang, 1983 [May], Zool. Res., Kunming, 4: 124. Types: XXX. Type locality: Mt. Wuliang, Jingdong County, Yunnan Province, China, 2600 meters.

Hope that helps, and anyone with suplus of any of these three animals, please feel free to send them to me.

~Aaron

 

[kai]

Hi Tim,

Cynops (Hypselotriton) chenggongensis seems to be a valid species and is probably closely related to wolterstorffi. We urgently need to get this species into captivity and get a breeding program going ASAP! It would be a real shame if this taxon also would become extinct...

Cynops (Hypselotriton) cyanurus is believed to have 2 valid subspecies and chuxiongensis is believed to be a junior synonym of Cynops (Hypselotriton) cyanurus yunnanensis. The Yunnanese subspecies seems to be more likely to get exported but I haven't got my hands on preserved specimens to verify any subspecies identification...

Best wishes,
kai

 

[ralf]

Hi all,
unfortunately I don't have any surplus animals since most of my C. cyanurus are still too young. I keep the first potential breeding couple cooler for the first time this winter.
However, I can contribute some pictures of my F1 animals which were captive bred with wildcaught parents by a different breeder.

Ralf

 

[TJ]

Very nice shots Ralf

Are their tails actually blue as their common name Blue-tailed Fire-bellied Newt implies? Or is this only during the breeding season as with Cynops pyrrhogaster? Of course, yours are still young, but I thought you might know anyway.

There's a beautiful blue sheen on the body of this one pictured in the Mergus Terrarien Atlas.

(sorry but can't find a credit listed for this photo...)

 

[ralf]

Hi Tim,
their tails are not blue as yet. I think this is a secondary trait of adult males just during breeding season. Anybody correct me if I'm wrong.

Ralf

 

[henk]

Hai Ralf, no correction needed you're right.
I would urge anyone who breeds these not to give away all his offspring. I think it would be of great value to keep a good source for yourselves, since this species has the nasty habit of being a quite difficult to maintian animal : it all goes well when all over sudden the drop offs start ... it happened to at least 3 people keeping them out here in Europe , some with a good urodela reputation. So far I wold not consider C. cyanurus to be a hardy as the usual Cynops at all !!

 

[ralf]

Hi Henk,
thank you for your sound advice. Yes, this species is prone to be lost due to unknown reasons and especially the raising of juveniles seems to be difficult. It was quite a job to get the metamorphed animals to accept any food in the first place, quite unlike any other Cynops I keep. I experienced similar difficulties with Paramesotriton juveniles.
Maybe we should start a new thread on different methods for raising juveniles.

Ralf

 

[paul]

Hello,
in "Cynops Registry" we are looking for information for a better determination of the two cyanurus subspecies. Has someone illustrations of Cynops cyanurus, with known subspecies?
Greet Paul

 

[TJ]

Hi Paul,

The Chinese-language book cited above says that in the case of C.c.cyanurus, the orange/red ventral coloring covers the entire cloacal area and extends all the way to the tip of the tail, while in the case of C.c.chuxiongensis it covers just the bottom part of the cloacal area and stops short of the tip of the tail. At least that's what I can make of it. Does that make sense to you?

Also, it says they are found in different places: C.c.cyanurus in Guizhou Province and C.c.chuxiongensis in Yunnan Province among other places.

 

[paul]

Hi Tim,
thanks!
This is a good reference. Then all C.c. pictures I saw, may be yunnanensis (chuxiongensis).
Paul