The species Japanese fire belly newt is also known as cynops pyrrhogaster lives on Japanese islands such as Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Usually in clear, cool body’s of water such as ponds, ditches, pools, or lakes. It is commonly confused with the Chinese fire belly newt due to similarities in coloring and size. These newts usually grow to about 3.5 to 5.5 inches long.

 

By this it can be distinguished from its relative by its larger size rough, pebbly skin and distinct parotoid glands. Males can be distinguished from females by their swollen cloacas and male newts of this species will often form a blue iridescent sheen and smoother skin during the breeding season.

 

They are typically brown or black above, often with red spots or specks, and orange or crimson below, usually with a blotched darker pattern. Some of the adaptations that the Japanese fire belly newt has are it having a tail for swimming and catching food.

 

Author: Marcello

Published: 05/2010

 

Photo Credit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%E3%82%A2%E3%82%AB%E3%83%8F%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%

E3%83%A2%E3%83%AA_Japanese_fire_belly_newt.jpg