Batrachuperus are smallish hynobid salamanders found mainly in western China but also in Afghanistan and Iran.
External characteristics of the genus are given by Zhao et al as follows: body large, tail about equal to body length; labial folds prominent; longitudinal skin fold on the chin; gular fold slightly arc-shaped; bases of palms, soles, fingers and toes have cornified coverings, or only fingers and toes have cornified covering: tongue oval, elongate; four fingers, four toes; gelatinous egg sac short, less than body length, egg production low, egg size large, eggs arranged in one row within the sac. Lives in water during non-reproductive period. Neoteny can occur.
Batrachuperus are rarely if ever seen in the pet trade.
| QUICK INDEX | ||
| B. gorganensis, Stream Salamander | B. karlschmidti, Stream Salamander | B. londongensis, Londong Stream Salamander |
| B. mustersi, Stream Salamander | B. persicus, Stream Salamander | B. pinchonii, Stream Salamander |
| B. taibaiensis, Taibai Stream Salamander | B. tibetanus, Alpine Stream Salamander | B. yenyuanensis, Yenyuan Stream Salamander |
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Distribution | Size | Notes |
| Batrachuperus | ||||
| B. gorganensis | Iran | ? | ??. | |
| B. karlschmidti | China (Sichuan) | 9-17cm | Adults are found under rocks in quiet water on the edges of streams, or sometimes in rock crevices. Juveniles are found in slow-flowing tributaries, while small larvae live in small streams. Labial fold present. Coloration: dorsum and venter uniform, no noticeable spots (latter are visible only with aid of magnification). Reproduction: reproduction takes place May-August. As larvae develop, the caudal fin becomes lower and the tail muscle more developed. | |
| B. londongensis | Longdong Stream Salamander | China (Sichuan?) | This species is mentioned in Zhao et al, who thought it should probably be considered a synonym of B. pinchonii. No other information so far available. | |
| B. mustersi | Afghanistan | See AmphibiaWeb entry for more information. | ||
| B. persicus | Iran | |||
| B. pinchonii | Stream Salamander | China (Sichuan) | This species is found in the river systems in the western mountains of Sichuan. The tail is short and stout, the limbs long and strong. Coloration: dorsum has scattered large dark brown spots which may sometimes be arranged in three rows. | |
| B. taibaiensis | Taibai Stream Salamander | China (Sichuan?) | Not mentioned in Zhao et al. | |
| B. tibetanus | Alpine Stream Salamander | China (Sichuan) | 13½-15½cm | Only tips of digits have dark brown cornified coverings, but palms and soles often have light brown cornified skin that may be partially or totally shed: this skin may extend up to the lower parts of the limbs. Coloration: dorsum and ventrum irregularly marbled with dark brown spots of different sizes. |
| B. yenyuanensis | Yenyuan Stream Salamander | China (Yanyuan County in Sichuan) | Tail long and compressed, upper caudal fin fold high, arising from the base of the tail; limbs short, hind limbs flat. Coloration: densely scattered fine dark brown spots on dorsum. | |
Studies on Chinese Salamanders, Er-mi Zhao, Qixiong Hu, Yaoming Zhang and Yuhua Yang, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 1988. Key English-language work on all the Caudata found in China: contains section on Batrachuperus.
Herpetology of China, Er-mi Zhao and Kraig Adler, SSAR, 1993. Catalogue of practically every reptile and amphibian species found in mainland China, Hongkong, Macao, Tibet and Taiwan. There are few details of the ecology of the animals, but readers are referred to a very comprehensive bibliography, and colour plates are provided for many of the creatures listed.
LivingUnderworld.Org has a very useful section on the Batrachuperus species, their availability and care.
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