Chinese Fire Belly Newt / Cynops Orientalis (FBN)

[Koji™]

Description

A small newt (6 - 10.3 cm; 2.2 - 4 inches) which ranges in color from dark brown to black above with an orange to scarlet belly with numerous black blotches. There can also be small spots of orange coloration on the dorsum and particularly on the upper surfaces of the limbs. Some individuals possess a faint orange to brown dorsal stripe.



The skin is relatively smooth, and C. orientalis has distinct parotoid glands. Males are smaller and thinner overall than the females and tend to be squarish in cross section in comparison with the larger, rounder females. Sexual dimorphism is also seen in the tail, with males having shorter tails with slightly higher tail fins. Like most newts, males have a swollen cloacal region which is especially pronounced during the breeding season.



Some individuals of C. orientalis periodically lighten in color, and the resulting coloration can range from a ground color of ash-white, grey, tan, or even slightly burgundy. This color change is often accompanied by the appearance of a faint orange, red, or brown dorsal stripe and darker marbling along the flanks and extending onto the tail. The bright ventral coloration remains unchanged. There does not seem to be any consistent explanation for why this occurs, and the duration varies from hours to months. Some individuals may have these variant colors on a permanent basis.