Neurergus

Neurergus kaiseri

The genus Neurergus ( in German about: Kurdish mountain brook newts ) belongs to the order Caudata and inhabited areas in the Middle East, which partially overlap with the area of ​​settlement of the Kurdish people (eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Iraq).

Features

These are small to medium sized (12 to maximum 19 centimeters long ) salamanders, which - similar to the European mountain newts ( Euproctus and Calotriton ) - preferably in the environment and staying within mountain streams. Her hull is cylindrical and the tail is longer than the rest of the body. The males form, unlike, say, the newts of the genus Triturus broader sense, the mating season no skin combs, but ensure there are only extensions of Schwanzsäume on. Their cloacal is spherical in this time. The coloring of the upper surface is usually characterized by a dark ( brown to black ) color, which is interrupted by bright, often yellowish spots or stains. The underside is usually orange or red. The smallest species, the Zagros Newt, also shows red portions of the extremities and a longitudinal line on the back.

Species and subspecies

• Neurergus crocatus Cope, 1862 - Urmia newt
• Neurergus kaiseri Schmidt, 1952 - Zagros pig
• Neurergus microspilotus ( Nesterov, 1916)
• Neurergus strauchii ( Steindachner, 1887) - Turkish mountain brook newt Neurergus strauchii strauchii
• Neurergus strauchii barani Öz, 1994

Dissemination

The genus is, as far as hitherto known, in part, widely spaced and separated from each other ( disjoint ) sub-areas " Kurdistan " before:

• Neurergus crocatus: Hikkari (Turkey), Western Lake Urmia region ( Iran) and northeast Iraq to Kirkuk.
• Neurergus kaiseri: southern Zagros in Lorestan, around the village of Shah- Bazan (Iran).
• Neurergus microspilotus: western Zagros main ridge at the height of Paveh (Iran).
• Neurergus strauchii strauchii: West of Lake Van area, Bitlis (Turkey). Neurergus strauchii barani: kubbe pass west of Malatya ( Turkey). This represents the westernmost known occurrence of the genus

Recently, several occurrences of N. strauchii between these were discovered many years as a disjoint areas described. Their subspecies status remains open for the time.

Habitat and behavior

N. strauchii, N. and N. crocatus microspilotus inhabit small, fish -free mountain streams and their immediate surroundings - habitats that are mostly vegetationsarm. The streams are visited after the snow melts in the spring to breed and leave after a few weeks. The Salamander taking place in the sequence for protection from heat and dehydration deep into the surrounding rocky terrain back. Summer, autumn and winter are probably spent without interruption below the ground surface.

The courtship, mating and " transfer " of the spermatophore (s) will be held on land close to the bank. Then staple the female the fertilized eggs on rough ground ( stones, rocks ) in the stream bed. The hatching larvae live aquatil and continue for approximately two months, the metamorphosis.

Striking is the repeatedly observed cultural sequence of the genus. Frequently streams in the vicinity of the villages with stone walls are framed against flooding, which are apparently a favorable summer habitat for these salamanders. The supply of food (insects, arthropods, etc.) is likely to be higher in the vicinity of human settlements, mainly due to the number of livestock than in the open countryside.

The Iranian species N. kaiseri settled a semi-arid area with very hot, rainless summers. The Zagros pig is therefore dependent on running underground streams, which he left only in the winter months when it rains. This period also saw the reproduction, which may well take place below the surface falls. Over the life of the subterranean genus, especially N. kaiseri, little is known. Findings about mating behavior, embryonic and larval development originate mainly terrarium observations.

Threats and conservation

Even the very small -scale distribution areas increase the potential extinction of Neurergus species. As a general risk factors habitat destruction or pollution of water by agrochemicals ( pesticides, etc. ) and, increasingly, the catcher for the pet trade are accepted. Water engineering intervention in running waters - for example, dam projects, particularly in eastern Turkey - threaten many Neurergus populations now and in the near future.

The IUCN classifies N. kaiseri with an estimated total population of less than 1000 adult plants as " critically endangered " ( critically endangered ) a - at the beginning of the 21st century, the stock is to be decreased sharply within a few years by up to 80 percent and currently limited only to four streams. The reason mainly the excess fishing for the pet trade in the industrialized countries is given. In a recent report, the IUCN lists them even to the hundred most endangered species. Also located in the highest risk category N. microspilotus. The other two species are classified as " vulnerable" (endangered ) rated.

According to the Federal Species Protection Ordinance ( BArtSchV ) and the Federal Nature Conservation Act ( Federal Nature Conservation Act ) are Neurergus crocatus and Neurergus strauchii " special protection ".

In a CITES Conference in Doha ( Qatar) in March 2010 it was decided by the participating States, Neurergus kaiseri in Appendix I of the CITES Convention ( CITES ) and to thus in principle to ban the global trade in wild specimens of this species. Even before that export to Iranian law, was illegal. "Lovers " and collectors in the EU countries and Japan are said to have recently partially paid 300 euros for one of the rare Zagros newts. The Annex amendments adopted in Doha - including the trade ban for the Zagros pig - were quite effective for the EU Member States on August 15, 2010.

As more species conservation measure for Neurergus kaiseri an ex situ breeding program was started on Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita / Kansas, to stabilize the population numbers and increase. In addition, the Razi University in Iran will be able to perform for this purpose an in situ breeding program, ie a controlled Nachzüchten in the field.