Hynobius yiwuensis Cai, 1985
Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 2010). This salamander is common within its range. But population size is decreasing because the breeding and hibernating sites are near crop field, which is polluted by agricultural chemicals.
Vomerine teeth lined in “ɿɾ” shape; interior line extends posteriorly to the posterior margin of eye. When limbs are adpressed, fingers and toes do not meet in most specimens (Cai, 1985). Tubercles are present on palms and soles. 10 costal grooves. Caudal fin is present and prominent in males. Venter is grayish white without speckles (Fei et al., 2006).
Karyotype:
2n=56, 1M, 2M/SM, 3M/SM, 4ST, 5SM, 6M, 7M, 8SM, 9M, 10SM, 11SM/ST, 12SM, 13M, 14M, 15M, 16M, 17M, 18M, m (19–28), from Ikebe et al. 1998 (misnamed as Hynobius chinensis).
M: metacentric; SM: submetacentric; T: telocentric; ST: subtelocentric; m: micro-chromosome
This salamander looks like Hynobius chinensis and differs from the latter species by the interior line of vomerine teeth extending to the posterior margin of eye, 10-11 costal grooves and presence of caudal fins. Hynobius chinensis has shorter vomerine teeth, 11-12 costal grooves and nearly absence of caudal fins.
A relatively small salamander with a total length around 100–120 mm. Head oval-shaped with a V-shaped groove. Body cylindrical. Snout rounded with nostrils situated at the tip. Distance between nostrils is wider than that between eyes. Labial fold absent. Gular fold prominent. Interior line of the vomerine teeth very long, extending posteriorly to the posterior margin of eye. When limbs are pressed against body, fingers and toes do not meet in most specimens. Digits without web and horny covers. Tubercles present on palms and soles. Tail shorter than snout-vent length. Dorsal caudal fin continues from tail base to tail tip; ventral caudal fin is present at the posterior 2/3 of the tail. Typically 10 costal grooves, rarely 11. Dorsal color is dark grey and changes to greenish grey during breeding season. Ventral color is grayish white without speckles (Fei et al., 2006).
All measurements are from Cai (1985).
Male (14 specimens). Total length: 83–136 mm; snout-vent length: 47–74 mm; Head length: 14–19 mm; Head width: 10–17 mm; forelimb length: 15–21 mm; hind-limb length: 17–22 mm.
Female (10 specimens). Total length: 87–117 mm; snout-vent length: 53–68 mm; Head length: 15–17 mm; Head width: 11–14 mm; forelimb length: 14–17 mm; hind-limb length: 15–18.5 mm.
Mitochondrial data suggest that Hynobius yiwuensis is the most basal species in China except Hynobius leechii, which is grouped with Korean and Japanese species (Nishikawa et al. 2010). Fu et al. (2003) reveal the large divergence between the mainland population and the island population (Zhoushan islands) on the basis of mitochondrial and allozyme data.
This species occurs in central and western Zhejiang province of China (Yiwu, Wenling, Xiaoshan, Zhenhai). One population is found on Zhoushan Islands.
This salamander lives terrestrially under earth, rocks or rotten leaves in hilly areas at elevations of 100–200 m. It is sometimes found under grass after heavy rains in the summer. Local people dig it out in tomato or soybean fields. In general, this species is hard to find. It feeds on earthworms, centipedes and millipedes. Cannibalism could occur. In the breeding season, it is easily found in small ponds (Cai, 1985).
Descriptions of eggs and larvae are derived from descriptions originally given for H. chinensis from Fujian and Zhejiang. Salamanders from these provinces are now considered to belong to Hynobius yiwuensis (Pope, 1931; Chang, 1936; Zhang & Tang, 1987). Zhang & Tang described eggs, larvae and adult animals from Huantan, Xiaoshan County in Zhejiang Province, collected in February 1981: A pair of egg sacs is attached to stems of aquatic plants. An egg sac has a thick anterior part and a thinner caudal end, about 15–17 cm long, containing 33–64 eggs. Egg diameter 2.5-3 mm. On hatching, larvae measure about 15 mm and have a pair of balancers; they still have an amount of yolk and are almost translucent. The remnants of the yolk sac are used up after about ten days (Zhang & Tang, 1987; Fei et al., 2006). Zhang & Tang (1987) provide a table for the embryonic development. In mid-January, with water temperatures between 8–10°C, eggs take about 40 days to hatch, and metamorphosis is completed after 3.5 to 4 months (Fei et al., 2006). Pope described and depicted Hynobius larvae at an advanced stage of development from the Guadun region, Fujian Province: Dorsal fin extends forward past the middle of the back. Body and tail spotted with gray, the spots being most profuse on the tail fins where they often tend to run together. The head is uniformly gray and the external gills are sparsely speckled with the same color. Maximum size 62 mm. Larvae were found in May 1926 in pools in a bamboo grove. First metamorphosed juveniles can be found in July (Pope, 1931) or earlier, from May onward (Fei et al., 2006). The color of recently metamorphosed individuals is dark gray black, densely speckled with small bluish spots (MS pers. observ.).