Raffaëlli's spiny crocodile newt
Urodela / Family: Salamandridae
- Total length
- Male approx. 15 cm, Female approx. 20 cm
- Range
- Amami-Oshima, Uke-jima, and Tokunoshima
It feeds on earthworms, flatheaded worms, snails, slugs, beetles, and millipedes. In the diorama, it is trying to intimidate by expanding its ribs.
Among the newt family, this species retains primitive characteristics. The bumps on its back, which are the origin of its Japanese name, are actually protruding rib bones. The soles of its feet are bright orange to red.
This nocturnal newt is rarely seen outside the breeding season. On Tokunoshima, the species of swordtail newts, Cynops ensicauda ensicauda, which could be potential competitors, are absent, making it much easier to observe than on Amami-Oshima. Adults move very slowly and, when threatened, spread their ribs to intimidate.
Habitat of This Animal:
A:Forest along the valley - A3:Deep forest
Along the mountain valleys grows a high humidity forest. In such an environment, Quercus miyagii, a species of oak often grows in clusters. Some of these grow more than 20m tall and with trunk diameters exceeding 1m, with largely developed buttress roots. Also, there are many animals and plants preferring humid environments, supporting the abundant biota of Tokunoshima Island together with the forest along mountain ridges.
This A3:Deep forest