Crocodile Newt

Vomerine teeth in continuous series lying parallel anteriorly and diverging posteriorly. Head bluntly oval. Crown of head flattened, depressed in frontal and interorbital areas. Sides of head with bony and glandular areas elevated to level of upper eyelid. From above, the body has two series of rounded knob-like tubercles. Tail compressed laterally, with a well-developed fin-fold. Skin of body and tail finely granular. From above, dark-brown and glands on sides of neck and dorso-lateral region lighter brown. The parotoids, caudal fin fold, and warts light, from light-brown to red-orange. Tail usually lighter than body. Chin, belly and sides nearly black.Recently it has been suggested that Tylototriton shanjing is a synonym for T. verrucosus, based on similarity in Cyt b (Zhang et al. 2007). However, only a single sample of T. verrucosus was analyzed, from China, and compared to thirty-nine samples of T. shanjing. No samples of T. verrucosus were analyzed from other parts of the range. In addition, T. shanjing was shown to breed true in captivity (Ziegler et al. 2008). Thus the decision to place T. shanjing in synonymy with T. verrucosus must be considered premature until further analysis is undertaken with more samples of T. verrucosus, from more locations. (For an English translation of Zhang et al., contact Jennifer Macke at jpmackeATcomcast.net)A molecular phylogenetic analysis of a population from Doi Chang, Chiang Rai Province, in Thailand found that there were cryptic clades nested within T. verrucosus from China. They also had morphological traits similar to T. verrucosus. These results lead to the confirmation of the existence of T. verrucosus in Thailand and the conclusion the habitats of T. verrucosus need to be protected by future conservation plans. (Pomchote et al 2020).

The species is distributed in the hills and mountains of the Himalayan system in northeastern India (Sikkim and Darjeeling Districts), Bhutan, eastern Nepal, southern China (Yunnan Province), through northern Burma and northern Thailand to northern Vietnam. The species lives in various habitats, mainly in sites where mountain forests exist or previously existed, such as rice fields, tea gardens, meadows covering the shores of mountain ponds and lakes, forest edges, etc. Reproduction takes place in different water sources, from small rain puddles to permanent lakes.

Although it is not usually common, its local abundance may be high, from 10 to 20 individuals per few acres of a lake. Reproduction starts soon after the newt emerges from hibernacula. In a large part of its range, reproduction coincides with the start of the monsoon season (late March to early April). Spawning occurs between March and May, and may continue throughout the rainy season (as late as September). In October, adults leave the water bodies, and courtship takes place during day and night. Eggs are laid onto submerged vegetation and on the bottom, rarely outside water. The clutch contains 26-60 eggs. Female parental care has been observed. Metamorphosis occurs between summer and autumn. Larvae are known to overwinter. The age of sexual maturation is around 3-5 years, and maximum longevity is 11 years. Larvae feed mainly on aquatic insects, and adults feed on insects, earthworms, etc. Predation of amphibian eggs and larvae, including cannibalism, is known.

No global or regional changes in the populations of T. verrucosus are known. However, in some places, such anthropogenic influences as planting of the exotic conifer Cryptomeria japonica, introduction of the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), and destruction and pollution of natural ponds and lakes have had negative consequences.

This salamander occurs in agricultural lands, even in the neighborhood of human settlements, which creates a threat for its populations.