National Institute for Environmental Studies Invasive Species of Japan Japanese | English
  1. Invasive Species of Japan >
  2. Amphibians >
  3. Cynops pyrrhogaster

Cynops pyrrhogaster

Basic information
Scientific name Cynops pyrrhogaster

Click to magnify

アカハライモリ
Common names Japanese newt
Higher taxon Salamandridae, Caudata, Amphibia
Natural range Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and peripheral islets (Sado, Awaji, Oki, Iki, Goto, Amakusa, Koshikijima, etc.)
Habitat Paddy fields, ponds, streams, etc.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Introduced to Hachijojima Island (the Izu Islands) Range in Japan
Origin Chubu to Chugoku District (central to western part of the main island)
Date Details unknown. Recorded since later 1970s.
Route Accidental: Possibly hitchhiking on transport of the freshwater snail Semisulcospira bensoni, deliberately introduced as prey for the exotic firefly Luciola lateralis.
Impact Unknown.
Regulation in Japan No action for prevention, mitigation, control, or eradication.
Introduced range in other countries None.
Reference Notes
  • Hayashi et al. (1992) The origin of the Japanese newt Cynops pyrrhogaster on Hachijo-jima Island. Jpn J Herpetol. 14(4):215 (Abstract, in Jpn)
  • Sengoku et al. (eds) (1996) Encyclopedia of Animals in Japan 5, Amphibians, Reptiles, Chondrichthyes. Heibonsha. (in Jpn)
  • etc.