Molge wolterstorffi Boulenger, 1905, by original designation.

Chinese Fire-bellied Newts (in English) / diān yuán shǔ (滇螈属 in Chinese).

Endemic in mainland China.

In spite of the paraphyletic relationships and distinct geographical isolation, species of the mainland genus Hypselotriton are very similar to those of insular genus Cynops in morphology, resulting in the prolonged categorising of these Fire-bellied Newts in a single genus. Hypselotriton can be distinguished from Cynops by the inconspicuous parotoid gland (vs. well developed) and smooth or slightly granular skin (vs. distinctly granular).

Molge wolterstorffi Boulenger, 1905, by original designation.

(1) small to large size; (2) gular fold present; (3) mid-dorsal vertebral ridge continuous; (4) metacarpal and metatarsal tubercles on external side of hands and feet present; (5) postocular orange spot present; (6) blue lateral stripe on tail in breeding males present.

This subgenus includes all known Fire-bellied Newts populations distributed in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in southwestern China. Currently, four nomenclatures have been provisionally documented, i.e. H. (Hy.) chenggongensis (Kou & Xing, 1983), H. (Hy.) cyanurus (Liu, Hu & Yang, 1962), H. (Hy.) wolterstorffi (Boulenger, 1905) and H. (Hy.) yunnanensis (Yang, 1979) (Lyu et al. 2023a). However, the exact taxonomic status for these populations/species is still unresolved (Raffaëlli 2022; Lyu et al. 2023a). Thus, it is improper to present a key to these nomenclatures before a comprehensive study to precisely delimitate their taxonomic placements.

Cynops orphicus Risch, 1983, by present designation.

The nomen of Hakkatriton subgen. nov. is derived from Hakka, referring to its distribution in northern and eastern Guangdong where is the settlement of Hakka people and generic nomen Triton Laurenti, 1768.

(1) small size; (2) gular fold absent; (3) mid-dorsal vertebral ridge continuous; (4) metacarpal and metatarsal tubercles on external side of hands and feet absent; (5) postocular orange spot absent; (6) blue lateral stripe on tail in breeding males absent; (7) irregular greyish-blue patches on dorsum and lateral tail in breeding males and females present.

Two species distributed in isolated regions in northern and eastern Guangdong in southern China, respectively (Fig. 1).

Holotype. China • ♂; Guangdong Province, Shantou Region [now belonging to Jieyang City, Jiexi County], Tai-Yong [Dayang Township]; 23°35'N, 115°51'E [=23.58°N, 115.85°E; located in Liangtian Township, see remarks below], 640 m elev.; 4 Aug. 1936; JL Gressitt leg.; SYS 22474.

Paratypes. China • 97 adult specimens; same data as for holotype; SYS 22416–73, 22475–506 [90 specimens], MNHN 1980.4096–4098 [3 specimens, formerly SYS 24134–36], AMNH 46174, CAS 78704, 2 unnumbered specimens in the Department of Biology, Yenching University [probably lost according to Risch (1983)].

China • 4♂♂; Guangdong Province, Jieyang City, Jiexi County, Mt Dabei; 23.55°N, 115.89°E, ca. 490 m elev.; GEP a008, 010–011, CIB 121434 • 2♀♀; same data as for preceding; GEP a009, CIB 121435 • 2♂♂; Guangdong Province, Meizhou City, Fengshun County, Mt Hongtuzhang; 23.78°N, 115.96°E, ca. 1200 m elev.; GEP a263–264 • 3♂♂; Guangdong Province, Meizhou City, Fengshun County, Mt Shijiadong; 23.81°N, 116.33°E, ca. 1140 m elev.; GEP a314–316 • 3♀♀; same data as for preceding; GEP a317–319.

Seven specimens labelled as “Cynops glaucus” in Lyu et al. (2023a). China • 2♀♀; Guangdong Province, Jieyang City, Jiexi County, Mt Dabei; SYS a000729, 8511 • 1♂; Guangdong Province, Jieyang City, Jiexi County, Mt. Liwangzhang; 23.64°N, 115.81°E, ca. 990 m elev.; SYS a008602 • 1♀; same data as for preceding; SYS a008601 • 2♀♀; Guangdong Province, Meizhou City, Fengshun County, Mt. Tongguzhang; 24.18°N, 116.35°E, ca. 1500 m elev.; SYS a000730, 4743 • 1♀; same data as for preceding; SYS a000731.

The specific name orphicus is derived from the Greek legendary musician and poet Orpheus, in memory of several people who passed away in 1982 (Risch 1983).

Dayang Fire-bellied Newt (in English) / cháo shàn róng yuán (潮汕蝾螈 in Chinese).

(1) small body size, TOL 68.5–77.0 mm in adult males, 85.1–99.7 mm in adult females; (2) parotoid gland inconspicuous; (3) postocular orange spot absent; (4) surface smooth, finely granulated, gular fold absent; (5) continuous vertebral ridge weak and inconspicuous; (6) fingers and toes overlapping when fore-limb and hind-limb adpressed towards each other along body; (7) ground colour dark brown to olive brown, with irregular greyish-blue patches on dorsum and lateral tail in breeding males and females; (8) lateral tail with black spots; (9) ground colour of venter dark brown with irregular bright orange patches, bright orange blotches on chin, ventral limbs and cloaca; (10) ventral tail with a bright orange stripe.

Body slender and small-sized, TOL 68.5–77.0 mm in adult males, 85.1–99.7 mm in adult females, with detailed measurements listed in Table 2. Head oval in dorsal view; snout truncate, projecting slightly beyond mandible; nostril small, but conspicuous; labial fold developed on posterior part of upper jaw; tongue elongate, enlarged anteriorly, with free lateral margin; vomerine tooth patch “^”-shaped; eye small, not extending beyond lateral margins of head; an inconspicuous longitudinal ridge found posterior to each eye; parotoid gland inconspicuous, gill remnants absent; gular fold absent.

Surface smooth, finely granular; a few inconspicuous longitudinal wrinkles present on chin; continuous vertebral ridge weak and inconspicuous; cloacal opening oval, slightly protruding.

Limbs slender, fingers and toes overlapping when fore-limb and hind-limb adpressed towards each other along body; four fingers and five toes, slender and elongated, lack webbing; relative length of fingers I < IV < II < III; relative length of toes I < V < II < IV < III. Tail laterally compressed, tapering posteriorly; caudal fin distinct; tail tip bluntly pointed.

In life, ground colour dark brown to olive brown, with irregular greyish-blue patches on dorsum and lateral tail; lateral tail with black spots; a single bright orange dot on insertion of upper forearm; tips of digits light yellow to bright orange; ground colour of venter dark brown with irregular bright orange patches, bright orange blotches on chin, ventral limbs and cloaca; ventral tail with a bright orange stripe (Fig. 3).

Figure 3. 

Hypselotriton (Hakkatriton) orphicus in life. A. CIB 121434, adult male; B. CIB 121435, adult female; 1. Dorsal view in situ; 2. Ventral view.

In preservation, ground colour dark brown, irregular greyish-blue patches on dorsum and lateral tail faded and almost invisible; black spots on lateral tail and bright orange dot on insertion of upper forearm faded; bright orange blotches on ventral trunk and tail, bright orange blotches on chin, ventral limbs and cloaca slightly faded, dark patches more distinct.

For measurements, see Table 2. Larger body size in females; cloaca wider and more swollen in males than in females; tail proportionally shorter and wider in males than in females; variable greyish-blue patches on dorsum and lateral tail in both breeding males and females.

This species is known from multiple localities at elevations of 490–1500 m in the Lianhua Mountains and on the west of the Hanjiang River in eastern Guangdong (Fig. 1).

Adults are observed in wetlands, seasonal ponds, cultivated valleys and small lakes surrounded by forests from March to September. The breeding season is spring to summer. When breeding, a large number of individuals gather in the lentic water area. Males chase the females and show their courtship willingness by wagging their tails. Females lay eggs with jelly coating on tips of the leaves of aquatic plants. Eggs develop into larvae after about half a month and larvae develop into adults after about six to eight months. The newts feed on a variety of food sources, mainly small molluscs and arthropods in their habitat. Risch (1983) surmises that the newt might inhabit water all year round; however, adults leave the water from late September to early March to live on land until the next spring rains arrive.

The type specimens of this species were reported to be collected from Tai-yong (Gressitt 1937, 1941; Fig. 1, site 2). When describing them as a new species, Risch (1983) provided the type locality from traditional transliteration “Tai-yong” to current Pinyin as “Dayang”. Risch (1983) further provided the coordinates for this locality as “23°35'N, 115°51'E [= 23.58°N, 115.85°E]”; however, this coordinate is located in Liangtian Township (Fig. 1, site 3) which is ca. 15 km from Dayang Township. During the surveys across the region in Jiexi and Fengshun counties encompassing these two localities, we failed to observed Hypselotriton populations from the vicinity of both sites 2 and 3, possibly due to the development of urbanisation. Nonetheless, morphological characters of the specimens from neighbouring Mt Dabei, Mt Liwangzhang, Mt Hongtuzhang, Mt Tongguzhang and Mt Shijiadong (Fig. 1, sites 4–8) all match the original description of H. orphicus.

According to the original descriptions of Hypselotriton glaucus syn. nov. and H. (Ha.) orphicus, the only difference between them is the irregular greyish-blue patches on dorsum. Such colour pattern just occurs in the breeding living individuals and will fade after preservation according to our examinations. Thus, based on the morphological and phylogenetic results, we synonymised H. glaucus syn. nov. with H. (Ha.) orphicus.

Triton (Cynops) orientalis David, 1875, by original designation.

(1) small size; (2) gular fold present or absent; (3) mid-dorsal vertebral ridge interrupted; (4) metacarpal and metatarsal tubercles on external side of hands and feet absent; (5) postocular orange spot absent; (6) blue lateral stripe on tail in breeding males absent; (7) irregular greyish-blue patches on dorsum and lateral tail in breeding males and females absent.

Four recognised species distributed in eastern China (Fig. 1).

Holotype. China • ♂; Guangdong Province, Chaozhou City, Chao’an District, Mt Fenghuang, Peak Wudongding, Tianchi Lake; 23.96°N, 116.64°E, ca. 1320 m elev.; 21 Sep. 2019; Tian-Li Wei leg.; CIB 121430 [field number GEP a192] (Fig. 4).

Figure 4. 

The holotype CIB 121430 of Hypselotriton (Cynotriton) oolong sp. nov. in life. A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Lateral view of head; D. Dorsal view of head; E. Ventral view of hand; F. Ventral view of foot; G. Cloaca slit; H. Lateral view of tail.

Paratypes. China • 2♂♂; same data as for holotype; CIB 121429 [field number GEP a191], SYS a009274 [field number GEP a190].

The specific name oolong is used as a noun in apposition, derived from oolong tea. The type locality of this species, Mt Fenghuang, is famous for the cultivation and production of the Phoenix Oolong Tea. Yet, the developments of tea cultivation have affected and threatened the habitats of this species. We name this new species after the most famous local economic output in the hope that it would bring attention on the green and sustainable development as well as the harmonious co-existence between humanity and nature. This species name is also in memory of the Japanese manga artist Akira Toriyama (1955–2024). His most famous work, Dragon Ball, was originally inspired by Chinese culture and one of the characters is named as Oolong who makes the first shown wish with the Dragon Balls.

Oolong Fire-bellied Newt (in English) / wū lóng róng yuán (乌龙蝾螈 in Chinese).

(1) small body size, TOL 69.9–70.7 mm in adult males; (2) parotoid gland inconspicuous; (3) postocular orange spot absent; (4) surface rough and granulated, gular fold present; (5) interrupted vertebral ridge conspicuous and bulged; (6) fingers and toes overlapping when fore-limb and hind-limb adpressed towards each other along body; (7) ground colour dark brown to olive brown with black spots; (8) lateral tail with black spots; (9) ground colour of venter dark brown with irregular bright orange patches, bright orange blotches on chin, base of ventral limbs and anterior half of cloaca; (10) ventral tail with a bright orange stripe.

Body slender and small-sized, TOL 70.7 mm. Head oval in dorsal view; snout truncate, projecting slightly beyond mandible; nostril small, but conspicuous; labial fold well developed on posterior part of upper jaw; tongue elongate, enlarged anteriorly, with free lateral margin; vomerine tooth patch “^”-shaped; eye small, not extending beyond lateral margins of head; a conspicuous longitudinal ridge found posterior to each eye; parotoid gland inconspicuous, gill remnants absent; gular fold present.

Surface rough, dense tapered granules and tiny spines on dorsum, flanks, limbs and tail; dense granules and inconspicuous wrinkles on venter; interrupted vertebral ridge conspicuous and bulged; cloacal opening oval, slightly protruding.

Limbs slender, fingers and toes overlapping when fore-limb and hind-limb adpressed towards each other along body; four fingers and five toes, slender and elongated, lack webbing; relative length of fingers I < IV < II < III; relative length of toes I < V < II < IV < III. Tail laterally compressed, tapers posteriorly; caudal fin distinct; tail tip bluntly pointed.

In life, ground colour dark brown with black spots; vertebral ridge and upper margin of tail yellowish-brown; lateral tail with black spots; tips of digits light yellow; irregular bright orange stripe bordering dark patches on ventral trunk, bright orange blotches on chin, base of ventral limbs and anterior half of cloaca; ventral tail with a bright orange stripe.

In preservation, ground colour faded, greyish, black spots absent; vertebral ridge, upper margin of tail and digits dark grey; black spots on lateral tail indistinct; bright orange stripe on ventral trunk and tail, bright orange blotches on chin, ventral limbs and anterior half of cloaca slightly faded, dark patches more distinct.

Measurements of the type series are given in Table 2. All male specimens are similar in body proportions; however, the number, shape and position of ventral orange blotches vary amongst individuals.

This species is known only from Tianchi Lake and surrounding streams of Mt Fenghuang at elevations of ca. 1300 m. This locality is situated on the east of the Hanjiang River in eastern Guangdong, while the populations of H. (Ha.) orphicus were all discovered from the west of the Hanjiang River (Fig. 1).

The adult individuals inhabit puddles and slow streams that are surrounded by bushes and weeds. Fei et al. (2006) reported that 26 adults were observed from Mt Fenghuang during a survey in July 2002. However, only nine adults were observed in September 2019. The type locality is being threatened by the developments of tourism and tea planting, which might cause negative effects on this species.

The Hypselotriton populations from central Fujian were originally reported as Cynops orientalis (Hu et al. 1978; Risch 1983). Fei et al. (2006) re-identified the specimens from Mt Daiyun as C. orphicus, based on the ventral colouration that is similar to the paratypes of C. orphicus preserved in MNHN. However, our morphological examinations found that such colouration could not be a distinguished character between the two species, which led to the misidentification. The phylogenetic analysis revealed close relationships between the central Fujian populations and the new species, however, with distinct genetic divergences. Their distribution areas are also distantly isolated (Fig. 1). As there is a lack of detailed morphological data of the Fujian populations for accurate identification, we prudently label them as Hypselotriton sp. in this work provisionally.