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The Taliang Crocodile Salamander, Tylototriton taliangensis Liu (1950)

Appearance

The Taliang Crocodile Salamander is a unique species in the genus Tylototriton because it shares some morphological characteristics of both Tylototriton and Echinotriton. For example, it has a very flat head, witch should be one of the characteristics of Echinotriton.

T. taliangensis is a large species witch can reach a length of 180 mm. This species is completely black, with only orange to red toes, and similar coloured paratoïds and underside of the tail. The hind feet are very large. The tail is longer than the tails of the other Tylototriton and Echinotriton species.

Distribution and habitat

This species only occurs in the central mountains of Sichuan Province, China. T. taliangensis is most commonly found around 3000 meters altitude, most of the time above the tree limits. Except for some western populations of T. verrucosus, there aren’t any other Crocodile Salamanders witch have to cope with snow in the winter.

T. taliangensis shares it’s habitat with amphibians like Bombina maxima and Caluella yunnanensis (Kabisch et al. 1994).

Keeping and breeding

T. taliangensis can be kept inside an aqua-terraria all year round, but during the winter the water level should be reduced. During the winter these animals can also be kept in a setup without water.

The temperature in the summer should not exceed 25 degrees (77° F). During the winter the animals can stand temperatures down to 5° C (42° F). Because T. taliangensis lives at higher altitudes than most Tylototriton species, these temperatures are a bit lower.

When these salamanders are put in an aquaterraria after a cool period or hibernation, mating usually occurs. T. taliangensis almost always mates in the water, usually using amplexus (this can also be seen in the better known Spanish Ribbed Newt, Pleurodeles waltl). After fertilising the female, up to 200 eggs can be laid in the water (Fleck 1997). The larvae can be put into spacious aquaria for rearing. Not much is known about rearing the metamorphosed juveniles, but this could not be very different from rearing Emperor- and Guizhou Crocodile Salamanders. 

Status in captivity

Taliang Crocodile Salamanders have never been common in captivity, and are seldom bred, although this is one of the more easy Tylototriton species. Breeding results with this species should be improved. Visit www.studbooks.org for the Studbook of T. taliangensis.

Look here for photos of this species.

Fleck, J. (1997): Nachzucht von Tylototriton taliangensis. Elaphe 5(2): 86.

Kabisch, K., H. J. Herrmann & K. D. Kühnel, 1994. Zur Faunistiek, Ökologie und Morphologie von Tylototriton taliangensis Liu, 1950 aus Süd-Sichuan (SW-China). Abhandlungen und Berichte für Naturkunde Magdeburg 17: 109-118.