Chinhai Spiny Newt
CR

Chinhai Spiny Newt

Echinotriton chinhaiensis

Declining

Photo: (c) Spark, all rights reserved, uploaded by Spark

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Echinotriton chinhaiensis faces severe population decline due to rapid urbanization and agricultural expansion throughout its limited range in eastern China. Water pollution from industrial runoff and agricultural chemicals has degraded the pristine mountain streams essential for breeding. Collection for traditional medicine and the pet trade has further reduced wild populations, while climate change threatens to alter the cool, humid conditions this species requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered newt inhabits cool, clear mountain streams and adjacent forested areas in the hills of eastern China, particularly in Zhejiang Province. It requires pristine aquatic environments with rocky substrates and dense riparian vegetation for both breeding and terrestrial phases of its life cycle.

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionResource & habitat protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Chinhai Spiny Newt classified as Critically Endangered?
Chinhai Spiny Newt is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Echinotriton chinhaiensis faces severe population decline due to rapid urbanization and agricultural expansion throughout its limited range in eastern China. Water pollution from industrial runoff and agricultural chemicals has degraded the pristine mountain streams essential for breeding. Collection for traditional medicine and the pet trade has further reduced wild populations, while climate change threatens to alter the cool, humid conditions this species requires.
Where does Chinhai Spiny Newt live?
Chinhai Spiny Newt occurs in China. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Chinhai Spiny Newt?
The main threats to Chinhai Spiny Newt are 1.1, 11.1, 2.1, and 5.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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