Added 7 October 2003. Last updated 20 March 2003: added details for H. leechii and updated Bibliography.
Hynobius is one of the largest genera in the Hynobiidae. It comprises about 30 species found mainly in China, Japan and other parts of Asia.
External characteristics of the genus are given by Zhao et al as follows: body small, tail less than body length; palms and soles without cornified coverings; four fingers and five toes; lungs present; tongue broad and rounded; length of gelatinous egg sec is equal to or greater than the total length of adults; relatively large number of eggs is produced, these being arranged in irregular rows in the sac. Lives on land during non-reproductive period: neoteny exists.
Hynobius species are rarely if ever seen in captivity in the UK or North America (please inform us if you know differently!). They are however bred in Germany and the Netherlands, and possibly elsewhere as well.
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H. amjiensis, Amji Salamander |
H. arisanensis, Arisan Hynobid |
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H. chinensis, Chinese Salamander |
H. dunni, Oita Salamander |
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H. formosanus, Formosan Hynobid |
H. kimurae, Kimura Salamander |
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H. leechii, Northern Chinese/Korean Salamander |
H. lichenatus, Tohoku Salamander |
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H. naevius, Spotted/Buchi Salamander |
H. nebulosus, Clouded Salamander |
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H. retardatus, Japanese/Ezo Salamander |
H. sonani, Sonan's Hynobid |
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H. turkestanicus, Turkestan Salamander |
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Scientific Name |
Common Name |
Distribution |
Size |
Notes |
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Hynobius |
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Found at 1,940m altitude: known only from type locality. |
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Amji Salamander |
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[]. |
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Arisan Hynobid |
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Japan (Yamoto and Honshu Islands) |
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May appear in some literature as Pachypalaminus boulengeri. Found at altitudes of 1,000-1,500m. Characterised by greatly compressed tail, five toes and a horny epidermis on the underside of the hands and feet up to the tips of the fingers and toes. Coloration: overall slate colour, no spots. |
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Chinese Salamander |
China (Hubei, Fujian and Zhejiang) |
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Oita Salamander |
E & C China |
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Formosan Hynobiid |
Taiwan |
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?? |
Japan (Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku) |
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Kimura's Salamander |
Japan (W/C Honshu) |
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Long rows of palatine teeth, short thick tail and four toes. |
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Northern Chinese/ Korean Salamander |
NE China, Korea |
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Caudal fin absent in adults. Coloration: specimens from Pusan in Korea were overall black with light brown dorsal mottling [Shannon]. |
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Tohoku Salamander |
Japan (N Honshu to Izu and Yamato) |
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Short rows of palatine teeth, thick tail lacking a ridge, usually five toes. Coloration: grey-brown with lighter spotting. |
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China (Xinogyue County, Liaoning) |
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Known only from type locality. |
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Spotted/Buchi Salamander |
Japan (Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu) |
14cm |
Long palatine teeth rows, 14 costal grooves, short thick tail and five toes. Coloration: dorsally black with bluish spots, becoming laterally paler. |
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Clouded Salamander |
Japan (Kyushu and Shikoku) |
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13 costal grooves, short thick tail and five toes. Coloration: yellowish: darker spots and yellow longitudinal line on the back and tail. |
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Japanese/Ezo Salamander |
Japan (Hokkaido) |
19cm |
Short rows of palatine teeth, 11-12 costal grooves and long slender tail. Coloration: grey-brown with darker stripe on sides of body. |
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Sonan's Hynobid |
Taiwan |
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Turkestan Salamander |
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China (Zhejiang) |
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Closely related to H. chinensis, but differs in the following characteristics: vomerine teeth series longer; head longer than broad; when appressed, tips of fingers and toes mostly not meeting; 10 costal grooves; base of tail rather round, gradually compressed and having fin folds, especially distinct in the male; venter greyish white, without blotches. |
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Studies on Chinese Salamanders, Er-mi Zhao, Qixiong Hu, Yaoming Zhang and Yuhua Yang, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 1988. Key English-language work on all the Caudata found in China.
Herpetology of China, Er-mi Zhao and Kraig Adler, SSAR, 1993. Catalogue of practically every reptile and amphibian species found in mainland China, Hongkong, Macao, Tibet and Taiwan. There are few details of the ecology of the animals, but readers are referred to a very comprehensive bibliography, and colour plates are provided for many of the creatures listed.
"The Reptiles and Amphibians of Korea", Frederick A Shannon, Herpetologica Vol. 12/22. The author had the chance to study local herpetofauna while stationed in Korea in 1951-2.
Animal Life Encyclopedia Volume 5: Fishes and Amphibia, Grzimek,1975 provided details of the general appearance of the species.
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