Hakuba Salamander

Hynobius hidamontanus has a snout vent length of 44-58 mm and a total length of 76-105 mm. It has 12, or rarely 13, costal grooves. Its limbs are fairly short, such that when its limbs are adpressed to the flank, there is a space of 0.5-3 costal grooves between the toes. Its hind feet have only 4 toes. Its dorsal ground color is purplish brown, flecked with light yellow spots and its tail usually has a lichen-like pattern. H. hidamontanus is most similar to Hynobius lichenatus, but it can be distinguished from H. lichenatus by its relatively short and high tail, long trunk, and short limbs (Goris 2004).The vernacular name comes from Mt. Hakuba of the Hida Mountains, a subdivision of the northern Japanese Alps (Goris 2004). [3684] Hynobius tenuis is now included in this taxon.

Hynobius hidamontanus is so far known only from the eastern slopes of the Hida Mountains in Nagano Prefecture. It lives in cold swamps at the edge of the forest. Juveniles and adults can be found deep in the swamp, under fallen logs and rocks at the swamp edge, and beneath the roots of plants (Goris 2004). [3684]

Hynobius hidamontanus breeds from the middle of April to the beginning of May, the time of the spring thaw, in very slow-moving water. It lays two transparent, banana-shaped, unstriated egg sacs which contain a total of 30-76 eggs. After oviposition the female leaves the water, but the male remains in the vicinity of the egg sacs. The eggs hatch in June. Most larvae metamorphose in September to November, but a few overwinter and metamorphose the following July. The larvae feed on aquatic insects, crustaceans, tubifex worms, and other invertebrates. They are also cannibalistic (Goris 2004). [3684]

Populations are declining due to the rapid construction of villas, which destroy the habitat around Hakuba village. Other threats include shrinkage and drying of wetlands, pollution, discarding of waste, and the pet trade (IUCN 2006). [3719]

Hynobius hidamontanus is in the pet trade (IUCN 2006). [3719]

The Hakuba salamander or Japanese mountain salamander (Hynobius hidamontanus) is a species of salamander in the family Hynobiidae. This salamander is also synonymous with the mountain salamander (Hynobius tenuis). It is endemic to Japan. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, swamps, freshwater springs, and plantations. It is threatened by habitat loss.