Well, I for one don't intend to make a field trip to that part of the world any time soon as I prefer to have my head and neck remain snugly on my shoulders. I'm sure a U.S. citizen wandering around the Zagros mountains of western Iran looking for newts would have a helluva hard time convincing local authorities what he is up to.
I found the German connection. It seems the name was given by a K.P. Schmidt in 1952.
Here's an interesting article I happened across:
------------------------------------------------
Ecology and Conservation of the Genus Neurergus in the Zagros Mountains, Western Iran
By Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University,
The newts of the Zagros Mountains, especially the genus Neurergus, are extremely sensitive to environmental change because they live in marginal conditions. It is likely that the rate at which newt species are declining in abundance has been underestimated, and this potential problem needs immediate attention. It is also possible that effects from habitat destruction, pollution and drought affect the Zagros newts more than any other of our amphibians, both directly and indirectly.
My studies have revealed that the Zagros newts require relatively complex mosaic landscapes that include terrestrial elements for foraging, protection and hibernation, as well as aquatic habitats with good quality and a rich invertebrate food base. Connective habitats that enable migration between terrestrial and aquatic habitats are also important determinants of population size and abundance.
Three species of the genus Neurergus occur in the Zagros Mountains, northwestern and western Iran. Of these, N. crocatus occurs in northwestern Iran in Azerbaijan and Kurdistan provinces. N. microspilotus occurs in Kermanshah province, and N. kaiseri occurs in Lorestan province in the south-central regions of the Zagros range. The habitat of these newts is closely related to shallow, cool, clear mountain streams and nearby vegetation. In the breeding season, mating takes place close to the water; the females then enter the water and deposit their eggs. After a few weeks, the larvae are found in the water and it takes about 2 months for the larvae to complete metamorphosis.
Based on my own observations, all 3 species of Neurergus are in great risk of population decline and are seriously threatened.
After receiving the DAPTF seed grant, field trips were conducted in the central Zagros Mountains in Kermanshah province, focusing on N. microspilotus. All available habitats (mountainous streams, ponds and deep valleys, at about 1350-2100 m elevation) were checked in order to ascertain the occurrence of this taxon. Occurrence was expected in most of the visited localities. The species, however, was absent in many of those localities and, if present in some, there were just a few specimens at each site. Climatic changes in the area were noted. Some of the small streams (serving as breeding sites) have dried out due to the severe drought of recent years. Populations previously occurring in these areas have been extirpated. Water contamination (either from human disposal, where the habitats are close to villages or small townships, or by chemical pollutants such as fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides) may also be having an effect on reproductive success and on various life stages.
The local people have been informed as to the destructive nature of their waste-disposal activities, and are co-operative, but lack a suitable alternative means of disposal. Local authorities have promised financial support to build a waste-disposal system and it is to be hoped that this is constructed soon.
The use of various chemical pollutants has also been discussed with the villagers and farmers who are using these chemicals to improve their agricultural efforts. Although it is difficult to prevent the use of �gfavourite�h chemicals, some headway has been made in emphasizing minimal use of chemicals, and then only when absolutely necessary. It is hoped that, with more financial support, the project can be continued and expanded, involving more local people and authorities, and that this will lead to a cessation, or at least a reduction, in the decline of the highly threatened, endemic newts of the Zagros Mountains. I wish to cordially thank the DAPTF for providing financial support for running this project. Hopefully, further DAPTF support will be forthcoming for a new proposed project on the Batrachuperus of the Iranian Plateau.
Source: Froglog
http://www.open.ac.uk/daptf/froglog/FROGLOG-56-2.html