Added 7 October 2003. Last updated 20 March 2003: added details for H. leechii and updated Bibliography.

The Family Hynobiidae: Asian Salamanders

Genus Hynobius

Hynobius is one of the largest genera in the Hynobiidae. It comprises about 30 species found mainly in China, Japan and other parts of Asia.

External characteristics of the genus are given by Zhao et al as follows: body small, tail less than body length; palms and soles without cornified coverings; four fingers and five toes; lungs present; tongue broad and rounded; length of gelatinous egg sec is equal to or greater than the total length of adults; relatively large number of eggs is produced, these being arranged in irregular rows in the sac. Lives on land during non-reproductive period: neoteny exists.

Hynobius species are rarely if ever seen in captivity in the UK or North America (please inform us if you know differently!). They are however bred in Germany and the Netherlands, and possibly elsewhere as well.

H. abei	H. amjiensis, Amji Salamander	H. arisanensis, Arisan Hynobid
H. boulengeri	H. chinensis, Chinese Salamander	H. dunni, Oita Salamander
H. formosanus, Formosan Hynobid	H. hidamontanus	H. kimurae, Kimura Salamander
H. leechii, Northern Chinese/Korean Salamander	H. lichenatus, Tohoku Salamander	H. mantschuriensis
H. naevius, Spotted/Buchi Salamander	H. nebulosus, Clouded Salamander	H. nigrescens
H. okiensis	H. retardatus, Japanese/Ezo Salamander	H. sonani, Sonan's Hynobid
H. stejnegeri	H. takedai	H. tenuis
H. tokyoensis	H. tsuensis	H. turkestanicus, Turkestan Salamander
H. yiwuensis	H. yunanicus

Scientific Name	Common Name	Distribution	Size	Notes
Hynobius
H. abei			?	Found at 1,940m altitude: known only from type locality.
H. amjiensis	Amji Salamander		?	[].
H. arisanensis	Arisan Hynobid
H. boulengeri		Japan (Yamoto and Honshu Islands)		May appear in some literature as Pachypalaminus boulengeri. Found at altitudes of 1,000-1,500m. Characterised by greatly compressed tail, five toes and a horny epidermis on the underside of the hands and feet up to the tips of the fingers and toes. Coloration: overall slate colour, no spots.
H. chinensis	Chinese Salamander	China (Hubei, Fujian and Zhejiang)
H. dunni	Oita Salamander	E & C China
H. formosanus	Formosan Hynobiid	Taiwan
H. hidamontanus	??	Japan (Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku)
H. kimurae	Kimura's Salamander	Japan (W/C Honshu)		Long rows of palatine teeth, short thick tail and four toes.
H. leechii	Northern Chinese/ Korean Salamander	NE China, Korea		Caudal fin absent in adults. Coloration: specimens from Pusan in Korea were overall black with light brown dorsal mottling [Shannon].
H. lichenatus	Tohoku Salamander	Japan (N Honshu to Izu and Yamato)		Short rows of palatine teeth, thick tail lacking a ridge, usually five toes. Coloration: grey-brown with lighter spotting.
H. mantschuriensis		China (Xinogyue County, Liaoning)		Known only from type locality.
H. naevius	Spotted/Buchi Salamander	Japan (Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu)	14cm	Long palatine teeth rows, 14 costal grooves, short thick tail and five toes. Coloration: dorsally black with bluish spots, becoming laterally paler.
H. nebulosus	Clouded Salamander	Japan (Kyushu and Shikoku)		13 costal grooves, short thick tail and five toes. Coloration: yellowish: darker spots and yellow longitudinal line on the back and tail.
H. nigrescens
H. okiensis
H. retardatus	Japanese/Ezo Salamander	Japan (Hokkaido)	19cm	Short rows of palatine teeth, 11-12 costal grooves and long slender tail. Coloration: grey-brown with darker stripe on sides of body.
H. sonani	Sonan's Hynobid	Taiwan
H. stejnegeri
H. takedai
H. tenuis
H. tokyoensis
H. tsuensis
H. turkestanicus	Turkestan Salamander
H. yiwuensis		China (Zhejiang)		Closely related to H. chinensis, but differs in the following characteristics: vomerine teeth series longer; head longer than broad; when appressed, tips of fingers and toes mostly not meeting; 10 costal grooves; base of tail rather round, gradually compressed and having fin folds, especially distinct in the male; venter greyish white, without blotches.
H. yunanicus

Bibliography

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.

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.

"The Reptiles and Amphibians of Korea", Frederick A Shannon, Herpetologica Vol. 12/22. The author had the chance to study local herpetofauna while stationed in Korea in 1951-2.

Animal Life Encyclopedia Volume 5: Fishes and Amphibia, Grzimek,1975 provided details of the general appearance of the species.

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