Kaiser’s Spotted Newt
Kaiser’s Spotted Newt is an Asian species, endemic to the central Zagros Mountains of Iran. Since 2006 the species was listed as Critically Endangered at the global level. Since then more research was conducted and it was revealed that wild population of the species is larger than previously thought. In 2016 the Kaiser’s Spotted Newt was moved to the Vulnerable category.
The populations are severely fragmented and the numbers are currently decreasing. The extent and quality of its habitat also continues to decline. The major threat to the species is illegal overharvesting for the national and international pet trade.
In 2012 the IUCN Species Survival Commission included the Kaiser’s Spotted Newt in the list of 100 most endangered species.
Conservation
■ Listed as Vulnerable (VU) in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
■ Listed in Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, or Washington Convention).
Taxonomy
■ Phylum Chordata – chordates
■ Class Amphibia – amphibians
■ Order Caudata – salamanders
■ Family Salamandridae – true salamanders and newts
■ Species Neurergus kaiseri – Kaiser’s Spotted Newt