Neurergus crocatus, the yellow-spotted newt,[3] Azerbaijan newt, Azerbaijan mountain newt, mountain newt, or Lake Urmia newt, is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae. It occurs in the mountains west of Lake Urmia, in northwestern Iran, northeastern Iraq, and southeastern Turkey.[1][4][5][a]

Neurergus crocatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Neurergus
Species:
N. crocatus
Binomial name
Neurergus crocatus
Cope, 1862[2]

Description

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Neurergus crocatus grow to about 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) in total length; the tail is longer than the body (i.e., tail length>snout–vent length). The head is flattened and longer than it is wide. The snout is rounded. The body is slender and almost round, without a dorsal ridge. The tail is rounded at the base and laterally compressed towards its tip. The tail has moderately developed dorsal and ventral fins. The limbs are well-developed; the digits are thick and flat. Colouration is dorsally dark brown to black with yellow, rounded but somewhat irregular blotches; these continue on the tail. The ventral surfaces are orange-red in males and yellowish in females.[5] They can live for between 12-15 years in captivity, and usually reach sexual maturity in four years.[6][7]

Habitat and conservation

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Neurergus crocatus breed in montane streams at elevations of 1,500–2,000 m (4,900–6,600 ft) above sea level; after the breeding season, adults disperse to the surrounding areas, but their specific microhabitats are unknown. This species is probably threatened by habitat loss, caused by for example new dams.[1]

Notes

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  1. ^ Despite its vernacular names, this species does not occur in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Instead, "Azerbaijan" here refers to the Azerbaijan region of Iran.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Papenfuss, T.; Sparreboom, M.; Ugurtas, I.H.; Rastegar-Pouyani, N.; Kuzmin, S.; Anderson, S.; Eken, G.; Kiliç, T.; Gem, E.; Kaya, U. (2016) [errata version of 2009 assessment]. "Neurergus crocatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T14734A86247230. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  2. ^ Cope, E. D. (1862). "Notes upon some reptiles of the Old World". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 14: 343–344. JSTOR 4059481.
  3. ^ Schultschick, Günter (2002–2004). "Neurergus crocatus Yellow Spotted Newt". Caudata Culture. Information about salamanders and their captive care. Translated by Jennifer Macke & Ralf Reinartz. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  4. ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2021). "Neurergus crocatus Cope, 1862". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001.
  5. ^ a b Sparreboom, Max (2014). Salamanders of the Old World. The Salamanders of Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. Zeist: KNNV Publishing. pp. 256–258. ISBN 978-90-5011-4851.
  6. ^ "Lake Urmia Newts (Neurergus crocatus) For Sale - Underground Reptiles". undergroundreptiles.com. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Neurergus crocatus - Care-sheet". Salamanderland. Retrieved 8 November 2022.

Further reading

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