Pseudohynobius jinfo Wei, Xiong, Hu & Zeng, 2009
Data are insufficient to make a statement about its status.
Dorsal coloration purple with numerous small yellow dots. It has a longer tail (tail length > snout-vent length) than other Pseudohynobius species (tail length < snout-vent length). 8-9 vomerine teeth on each side.
Mitochondrial sequence data and allozyme data are available in Zeng et al. (2006).
Pseudohynobius jinfo resembles P. flavomaculatus but differs from the latter species by a longer tail and fewer vomerine teeth (12–17 in P. flavomaculatus).
This is a slender salamander; the tail is longer than snout-vent length. Head somewhat depressed and slightly longer than wide. Snout rounded in dorsal view. Large protruding eyes. Distance between nostrils larger than that between eyes. Gular fold distinct. Vomerine tooth rows with only 8-9 teeth. Distinct vertebral groove on back, from back of head to tail base. 12 costal grooves. Fore limbs slightly shorter than hind limbs; hind limbs stronger and twice the width of fore limbs. Tips of fingers and toes touching or slightly overlapping when limbs are adpressed. Horny cover absent from digit tips. No tubercles on palms and soles. Tail distinctly longer than snout-vent length. Dorsal color purple, mottled with small yellowish spots. Ventral color pale, flank with small yellowish spots, but not as bright as the dorsal spots.
All measurements are from Wei et al. (2009).
Male (holotype). Snout-vent length: 86.1 mm; tail length: 112.6 mm; head length: 22.1 mm; head width: 16 mm; forelimb length: 24.2 mm; hind-limb length: 26.1 mm.
Female (paratype). Snout-vent length: 76.1 mm; tail length: 87.2 mm; head length: 19.2 mm; head width: 13.1 mm; forelimb length: 23.2 mm; hind-limb length: 25.5 mm.
Pseudohynobius jinfo used to be considered a population of P. flavomaculatus (Fei et al., 2006). But mitochondrial and allozyme data suggest that P. jinfo is a separate species that is reproductively isolated from P. flavomaculatus (Zeng et al., 2006). The two species are sister species.
This species is so far only known from two neighboring mountains, Mt Jinfo and Mt Baima, Nanchuan County, southwestern China.
Both adult and larval specimens were collected from a clear mountain pond formed by a montane spring, surrounded by grass. The pond is 7 m long, 5 m wide and 60 cm deep. Water is clean. Substrate includes silt, a few rocks and fallen leaves. Gammarids are found in the pond. Salamanders are found in grasses at the pond edge in daytime and in water at night (Wei et al., 2009).
Breeding season is unknown. Larval morphology is described in Wei et al. (2009): Head depressed, its width smaller than its length. Limbs slender, fingers and toes flat, with black horny cover at tips. Tail high, shorter than snout vent length, tip of tail abruptly pointed. Dorsal fin originating midway the trunk. Color light yellow-gray or yellow-brown.