Neurergus kaiseri

Neurergus kaiseri, the Luristan newt, Kaiser's mountain newt, Kaiser's spotted newt or emperor spotted newt (not to be confused with Tylototriton shanjing), is a species of very colourful salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is endemic to the southern Zagros Mountains in Iran where it is known from just four streams. Populations of this newt have been declining and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as "vulnerable". A captive breeding programme has been established in several zoos.

Neurergus kaiseri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Neurergus
Species:
N. kaiseri
Binomial name
Neurergus kaiseri
Schmidt, 1952
Synonyms[2]

Neurergus crocatus kaiseri Schmidt, 1952

Distribution and habitat

The Luristan newt is endemic to the southern Zagros Mountains in Iran.[2] It is primarily found in highland streams surrounded by arid scrubland, but can also be found in ponds and pools. It is known only from four streams in a single catchment area and has a total area of occupation of under 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi).[1] In a recent study it was discovered that the current total area area of occupation is at 18,159 km^2.[3] Water is absent from its habitat for a significant part of the year and it moves out into the surrounding woodland which is predominantly oak and pistachio, during which time this species is known to estivate.

Currently the Lusristan newt if found in the Zagros Mountains in Iran, but in recent studies it has been concluded that small portions of southern Iran that include Kermanshah, Ilam, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, and Kohgiluye-Boyerahmad are habitats that these species will be distributing themselves in the future due do climate change affecting their current habitats.[3]

Conservation

It is considered critically endangered due to its tiny range (it inhabits an area of less than 10 km2), continuing habitat loss, and the illegal capture of salamanders for the wild animal trade. In 2008, the wild population was estimated at less than 1000 individuals.[1] However, a new survey in 2014[4] estimates a population of over 9,000 adults, and range estimate that could provide habitat for more than 40,000 Neurergus kaiseri.

International trade require a permit, as the Luristan newt is listed on CITES Appendix I.[5] It also has a captive breeding program involving several European and North American zoos, such as Sedgwick County Zoo. Iran is planning on starting its own breeding program.[6]

Captive care

These animals, despite being critically endangered, are often sold as captive bred (CB) animals. They are hardy animals under the right conditions. Three adults can easily live in a twenty-gallon terrarium, and should be offered both large amounts of land and water, as these species rarely visit water until the breeding season, as they live in a dry area. If keeping them terrestrial, they should be offered a good, but fairly dry top-soil, or coconut fiber, many live plants, and many hiding places. The best temperature ranges are 60–68 °F (16–20 °C), but can withstand temperatures up to 86 °F (30 °C). If being kept aquatic or semi-aquatic, they need cycled water, and live plants such as Elodea, Java fern, and other aquatic plants.[7]

Feeding is simple, as these newts are very hardy animals in captivity, and love to eat. Good feeders include Earthworms/Canadian night-crawlers, live and thawed blackworms, live and thawed blood-worms, calcium dusted pinhead crickets, the occasional waxworm, and various other insects. Insects collected outside should be avoided as they might introduce pesticides or parasites.[8][9]

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References
  1. Sharifi, M.; Papenfuss, T.; Rastegar-Pouyani, N.; Anderson, S.; Kuzmin, S. (2009). "Neurergus kaiseri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T59450A11943697. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T59450A11943697.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Neurergus kaiseri Schmidt, 1952". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  3. Ashrafzadeh, Mohammad Reza; Naghipour, Ali Asghar; Haidarian, Maryam; Kusza, Szilvia; Pilliod, David S. (April 17, 2019). "Effects of climate change on habitat and connectivity for populations of a vulnerable, endemic salamander in Iran". Global Ecology and Conservation. 19: e00637. doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00637.
  4. Mobaraki, Asghar; et al. "A conservation reassessment of the Critically Endangered, Lorestan newt Neurergus kaiseri (Schmidt 1952) in Iran" (PDF). Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. 9 (1): 16–25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-07. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  5. "Neurergus kaiseri". CITES. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  6. "Forgotten Species: the fiery Luristan Newt". Jeremy Hance. Mongabay.com. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  7. "Caudata Culture Species Entry - Neurergus kaiseri". www.caudata.org. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
  8. "Caudata Culture Articles - Food Items for Captive Caudates". www.caudata.org. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
  9. "Caudata Culture Articles - Nutritional Values". www.caudata.org. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
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