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Emperor Spotted Newt
Paignton Zoo is home to a large armada of emperor spotted newts, which you can find in Amphibian Ark.
Class:
Amphibia
Order:
Caudata
Family:
Salamandridae
About the emperor spotted newt
The emperor spotted newt is one of the most visually striking amphibians in the world. Found only in a small region of Iran’s Zagros Mountains, this rare species has bold black and white patterning with orange markings. Adults grow to around 12–15 centimetres in length.
They inhabit cool mountain streams and springs, hunting aquatic invertebrates. Outside the breeding season they are mostly solitary, returning to water to lay eggs in spring.
Conservation
Endemic to southwestern Iran, within a very small range in the Zagros Mountains, this species is classified as Critically Endangered due to habitat destruction, water extraction and illegal collection.