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The Vietnam Warty Newt, Paramesotriton deloustali Bourret (1934)

Taxonomy

Although most species of Paramesotriton live in China, this species has the first to be formally described for science. P. deloustali was considered conspecific with P. guanxiensis by Pang et al. (1992), genetic analyses did indeed show that these two species are closely related (Lu et al. 2004). Recent studies by Weisrock et al. (2006) also show a close relationship of the two species, but P. fuzhongensis would be even closer related to P. guanxiensis. Until future research is completed, all species are considered valid at the moment. It is likely that a closely related, undescribed species or subspecies occurs in Bac Kan province the north of Vietnam (Weisrock et al. 2006).

Appearance

P. deloustali is the largest species in the genus,  one of its most prominent features is its unusual large head. The ground colour is brown in strong contrast to the underside, which is a mosaic of red to orange blotches separated by a brown netting. The tail is very strong and equipped with a high tail fin.

Males differ from females by their smaller size, longer limbs, slightly elongated head and shorter tail. During the mating season the males develop a bluish sheen on the lateral side of the tail.

Distribution and Habitat

It was long thought that P. deloustali was confined to the type locality at Tam Dao, Vietnam, making it extremely threatened due to the economic development in that area (Rehak 2002; Schöttler 2004). Recent rapid field surveys and herpetological fieldwork in North Vietnam however have discovered the species on other localities (e.g. Hung et al. 2002 in Ha Giang; Tordoff et al. 2002 in Lao Cai). Schöttler (2004) cites the occurrence of P. guanxiensis in the extreme north of Vietnam, although this concerns most likely the genetically aberrant populations of P. deloustali from Bac Kan analyzed by Weisrock et al. (2006). Currently, the known distribution comprises more than ten localities in Bac Kan, Ha Giang, Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, Tay Nguyen, and Lao Cai Provinces, all in Vietnam. It occurs from about 600-1,200 m asl (IUCN 2006).

The habitat is characterized by flowing streams in mountainous rainforest. Individuals mainly occur in the only slightly flowing pools scattered throughout the stream. The streambeds are mostly sandy with few rocks on the bottom.  

Conservation and status in captivity

This species is still highly threatned on its type locality in Tam Dao, although it seems not as rare as thought in the past. The possibility for the creation of a park for P. deloustali has been proposed (Sang et al. 2003). P. deloustali has been imported occasionally in the past, although always by private persons. Breeding was very rare before 2004 (Rehak 2002), when larger amounts of the species were brought to Europe, mostly originating from Tam Dao despite the rarity of the species at this locality. Breeding occurred in Spain, France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and captive offspring is now regularly available, hopefully halting the import of captive individuals.

Look here for photos of this species.

Hung, L. M., T. T. Du & V. H. Trac (2002): A Rapid Field Survey of Xin Man and Yen Minh Districts, Ha Giang Province, Vietnam. BirdLife International Vietnam Programme Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources and Ha Giang Provincial Departmant of Forest Protection, Hanoi.

Lu, S., Z-G. Yuan, J. Pang, D. Yang, F. Yu, P. McGuire, F. Xie & Y-P. Zhang (2004):  Molecular Phylogeny of the Genus Paramesotriton (Caudata: Salamandridae). Biochemical Genetics 42(5/6): 139-148.

Pang, J., Y. Jiang & Q. Hu (1992): A systematic study on the Chinese newt genus Paramesotriton (Caudata: Salamandridae). In Jiang, Y. (ed.), Collected Papers on Herpetology, Sichuan Science and Technology Publishing House, Chengdu, pp. 89–100. (in Chinese)

Rehak, I. (2002): Pačolek vietnamskỷ – vymirajici klenot z Tam Dao - (Translation: Juraj Lezovic: Paramesotriton deloustali – Jewel of Tam Dao threatened by extinction) – ZIVA 5/2002, Czech Republic.

Sang, N. V., H. T. Cuc, N. G. Truong, T. V. Cuong, N. X. Tuong, L. T. Hai (2003): Feasibility Study for a Conservation Program for the Vietnamese Salamander Paramesotriton deloustali in Ba Be and Cho Don Districts. PARC Ba Be / Na Hang: Conservation program for the Vietnamese Salamander, Hanoi.

Schöttler, T. (2004): Eine Molchreise nach Nordvietnam. Amphibia 2(2): 23-24.

Tordoff, A. W., L. M. Hung, N. Q. Truong & S. R. Swan (2002): A Rapid Field Survey of Van Ban District, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam. BirdLife International Vietnam Programme and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources with financial support from Danida in cooperation with the Fauna & Flora International Vietnam Programme, Hanoi.

Weisrock, D. W., T. J. Papenfuss, J. R. Macey, S. N. Litvinchuk, R. Polymeni, I. H. Ugurtas, E. Zhao, H. Jowkar & A. Larson (2006): A molecular assessment of phylogenetic relationships and lineage accumulation rates within the family Salamandridae (Amphibia, Caudata). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 41: 368–383.