Sword-tail Newtシリケンイモリ
Cynops ensicaudaVU— Vulnerable
The sword-tail newt is a large, semi-aquatic newt endemic to the Ryukyu Archipelago of southern Japan, including the Amami and Okinawa island groups. Females can reach up to 18 cm, the largest size in its genus, and it inhabits humid forests, ponds, and slow-moving streams, foraging mainly at night on small invertebrates. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, its populations have declined sharply in recent decades.
Sword-tail Newt (reference photo)
Species Data
Did You Know?
- During the breeding season, the male's tail becomes vertically broader, and the species lays eggs both underwater and on land in slow-moving water bodies, ponds, and wetlands. Source
- Females can reach up to 18 cm in total length, making the species the largest living member of the genus Cynops. Source
- As of 2010, newt counts at breeding grounds in Okinawa were reported to be 75% lower than in 1996, and some individuals fall into concrete roadside drainage ditches on rainy days and cannot escape. Source
Where to See This Species
1 facilities · 0 individuals
沖縄美ら海水族館 (Okinawachuraumi Suizokukan)OkinawaOpened in 2002
「琉球弧の水辺」エリアでオキナワシリケンイモリを展示（美ら海生き物図鑑掲載） Source
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Conservation Story
Conservation Status
IUCNではVU。琉球列島の水辺と森林の改変が大きな課題です。
Habitat
水田、側溝、池などの静水域と周辺の陸上環境。
Threats
- 開発と森林伐採
- 繁殖地の改変
- 外来の捕食魚
Conservation & Breeding Efforts
- 繁殖水域の保全
- 飼育展示を通じた固有種保全の啓発
Sources
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FAQ
- How big does the sword-tail newt get?
- Females can reach up to about 18 cm in total length, making it the largest living species in its genus, while males are somewhat smaller. Source
- Where does the sword-tail newt live?
- It is endemic to the Ryukyu Archipelago of southern Japan, including the Amami and Okinawa island groups, living in humid forests, ponds, and slow-moving streams. Source
- Is the sword-tail newt endangered?
- Yes, it is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. In Okinawa, breeding-ground counts fell by 75% between 1996 and 2010. Source
Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org