Tylototriton yangi (Hou, Li, Lv, 2012)

Wang, Kai, Yuan, Zhiyong, Zhong, Guanghui, Li, Guangyu & Verrell, Paul A., 2017, Reproductive biology of Tylototriton yangi (Urodela: Salamandridae), with suggestions on its conservation, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 145) 11 (2), pp. 33-43 : 38-39

Comparative reproductive biology of Tylototriton yangi

Based on our results, the reproductive biology of Tylototriton yangi differs substantially from what is known for other species of the T. verrucosus group, especially in terms of courtship behavior and egg morphology ( Table 1). The courtship behavior of T. yangi is most similar to those of Indian populations of T. cf. verrucosus , in which they all court in water, exhibit tail-fanning movements, and display extensive nudging and rubbing behaviors ( Roy and Mushahidunnabi 2001). However, the Indian population of T. cf. verrucosus displays ventral amplexus during its courtship ( Roy and Mushahidunnabi 2001), which was not observed in the courtship of T. yangi in our study. Compared to populations of T. cf. verrucosus from the pet-trade with unknown localities, Tylototriton yangi displays extensive nose rubbing and nudging (sniffing?) behavior prior to tail fanning, which were not observed in pet-trade T. cf. verrucosus ( Sparreboom 1999, 2014). In addition to differences in courtship behavior, Tylototriton yangi also differs from all populations of T. verrucosus sensu lato in egg morphology, in which eggs of T. yangi do not possess an adhesive outer layer, whereas those of the latter are adhesive and attached to aquatic vegetation ( Roy and Mushahidunnabi 2001; Deuti and Hedge 2007; Wang, pers. observ.).

For other species, Tylototriton yangi differs from T. shanjing by courtship site (aquatic vs. mainly terrestrial), showing extensive nudging (sniffing?) and nose-rubbing behavior, and non-adhesive, singular eggs (vs. adhesive eggs sometimes in small clutches) (Ziegier et al. 2008; Li et al. 2012), and from T. kweichowensis , T. taliangensis , and T. pseudoverrucosus by showing extensive nose rubbing behavior and absence of ventral amplexus ( Hu 1994; Fleck 1997; Tian et al. 1998; Fei et al. 2006; Hernandez 2016).

In contrast, recently Hernandez (2016) reported ventral amplexus during courtship in T. yangi , without references or photographic evidence, and he noted males of the species would develop rugose nuptial pads on their forelimbs during the breeding season, as in the amplectant salamandrid Pleurodeles . However, such amplexus behavior and the development of nuptial pads during breeding season were not observed during our field or captive observations. Further study is needed to confirm the presence of amplexus behavior in T. yangi .