Yunnan lake newt
Picture of Wolterstorff pig
The Wolterstorff newt ( Cynops wolterstorffi ) is applicable as extinct salamander from southern China. He belonged to the genus of the fire belly newts ( Cynops ) and lived water strongly bound. The pig was temporarily out as the only species of the genus Hypselotriton.
Appearance
Named after the German herpetologist Willy Wolterstorff newt was built relatively large and powerful, and fell through bulging eyes on. The females were up to 16 cm long, the males reaching a size of up to 12 cm. The tail had it together in about the same length as the trunk and head. On the top and on the sides of Wolterstorff pig was black olive to black-brown, which could consist orange red spots on the flanks, the longitudinal rows formed. The body bottom was orange with black spots.
On the back center of which was a raised ridge keel. About this pulled an orange red line, which also included about two-thirds of the tail. At the time of mating, the males had the tail of a blue color.
In relation to the Japanese fire belly newt was the skin of Wolterstorff - pig smooth, but rougher than those Chinese fire belly newt. Similarities existed with the way Cynops cyanurus.
Dissemination
The Wolterstorff pig was observed exclusively in the Dian Lake and its immediate environment in the Chinese province of Yunnan. In this lying at an altitude of 1800 m mountain on which the city is Kunming, he was once a common sight. Especially in the spring, he was to be found in shallower areas of the lake, but also in nearby irrigation ditches and ponds.
Endangering
The only habitat of Wolterstorff newt was strongly affected by the industrialization of the nearby city Kunming. In addition, the introduction previously at this location is not occurring predators ( fish) may have affected the population. While in the 1950s many newts were still observed, no copy could be found during a field trip in 1979. For the year 1984 the last time reported the sighting of an animal by a fisherman. Since the species was not kept in captivity must be assumed that they died out now.