Added 5 October 2003.

The Family Hynobiidae: Asian Salamanders

Genus Liua

Liua is a monotypic genus. Its sole species, L. shihi, is a brownish newt with a few large, paler spots on the back and sides and tail.

External characteristics of the genus are given by Zhao et al as follows: body large, tail about equal to body length; labial folds prominent; longitudinal grooves on the throat; gular fold slightly arc-shaped; palms, soles, fingers and toes have cornified coverings, or only fingers and toes have cornified covering: tongue oval, elongate; four fingers, five toes; gelatinous egg sac short, less than adult total length, egg production low, egg size large, eggs arranged in one row within the sac. Lives in water for entire life.

L. shihi, ?    

Scientific Name Common Name Distribution Size Notes
Liua
L. shihi ? C China (E Sichuan, S Shaanxi, W Hubei and Hunan) ? Formerly considered a Hynobius species until 1984. Stream-dwelling species: females lay eggs in sacs that they attach to the underside of rocks.

Bibliography

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.

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