Long-tailed salamander
Encyclopedia
The Long-Tailed Clawed Salamander (also known as Fischer's Clawed Salamander), Onychodactylus fischeri, is a species of clawed salamander
found in Northeast Asia
. It ranges through northeastern China, the Russian Far East
, and the Korean Peninsula
, but is only sporadically distributed within this range. Within South Korea
, it is found chiefly in the high mountain valleys of Gangwon
province, including the Gwangdeoksan
and Daeseongsan regions. The adults feed on spiders, grubs, and insects.
The long-tailed clawed salamander is known to live at elevations up to 1000 m, and favors thickly-vegetated stretches of pebble-bottomed mountain streams, with little direct sunlight. It may also be found near underground springs. The mating season is from mid-March to mid-May. The eggs are laid in streams; the aquatic larvae emerge after approximately 5 weeks.
The adult males of the species are 17–18 cm long; adult females are slightly longer, 18–19 cm. The dorsal aspect is yellowish brown, with bands of dark brown spots throughout. The ventral aspect is lighter in color, without spots. The head is small, flat and oval. The skin is smooth overall, but with one groove running along the center of the back. The tail is longer than the head and body combined, a fact from which the salamander takes its common name.
Clawed Salamander
The genus Onychodactylus or clawed salamanders is composed of two species, both endemic to East Asia. The species Onychodactylus fischeri is found on the Korean peninsula, as well as in the Russian Far East and adjacent regions of China. The species Onychodactylus japonicus is found in Japan, on...
found in Northeast Asia
Northeast Asia
Northeast Asia and Northeastern Asia refers to the northeastern subregion of Asia. Though the precise definition of Northeast Asia changes according to context, it always includes Japan and the Korean Peninsula, and is sometimes used to refer to these two regions exclusively.-Definitions:The...
. It ranges through northeastern China, the Russian Far East
Russian Far East
Russian Far East is a term that refers to the Russian part of the Far East, i.e., extreme east parts of Russia, between Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia and the Pacific Ocean...
, and the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
, but is only sporadically distributed within this range. Within South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, it is found chiefly in the high mountain valleys of Gangwon
Gangwon-do (South Korea)
Gangwon-do is a province of South Korea, with its capital at Chuncheon. Before the division of Korea in 1945, Gangwon and its North Korean neighbour Kangwŏn formed a single province.-History:...
province, including the Gwangdeoksan
Gwangdeoksan (Gangwon-do/Gyeonggi-do)
Gwangdeoksan is a mountain on the boundary between the provinces of Gangwon-do and Gyeonggi-do in South Korea. Its area extends across the city of Pocheon and the counties of Hwacheon and Cheorwon. Gwangdeoksan has an elevation of ....
and Daeseongsan regions. The adults feed on spiders, grubs, and insects.
The long-tailed clawed salamander is known to live at elevations up to 1000 m, and favors thickly-vegetated stretches of pebble-bottomed mountain streams, with little direct sunlight. It may also be found near underground springs. The mating season is from mid-March to mid-May. The eggs are laid in streams; the aquatic larvae emerge after approximately 5 weeks.
The adult males of the species are 17–18 cm long; adult females are slightly longer, 18–19 cm. The dorsal aspect is yellowish brown, with bands of dark brown spots throughout. The ventral aspect is lighter in color, without spots. The head is small, flat and oval. The skin is smooth overall, but with one groove running along the center of the back. The tail is longer than the head and body combined, a fact from which the salamander takes its common name.