Cynops – Fire belly newts

A group of small, brightly marked newts in the salamander family, widely known as the fire-bellied newts. Native to China and Japan, these amphibians are famous for their striking coloration: dark, almost black backs contrasted with bright orange or red bellies that are often speckled with black spots. This fiery underside is a classic example of aposematism, or warning coloration, advertising to predators that the newts are toxic. Indeed, like many salamanders, Cynops species secrete toxins through their skin, making them unpalatable and well-protected in the wild.

There are several species within this genus, including the popular Japanese Fire-bellied Newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster), which is found across the main islands of Japan, and the Chinese Fire-bellied Newt (Cynops orientalis), which inhabits southeastern China and has become common in the pet trade. Other species, like Cynops ensicauda from Okinawa, are more localized and rare. Despite their small size, they are hardy, long-lived, and surprisingly charismatic, often living for more than 20 years in captivity.

What makes Cynops especially fascinating is their dual lifestyle. Like many amphibians, they start life as aquatic larvae with gills, before metamorphosing into adults that live both on land and in water. Even as adults, they remain strongly tied to ponds, ditches, and slow-moving streams, especially during the breeding season. In spring, males develop smooth, shiny skin and spend much of their time underwater, courting females with elaborate tail-waving displays. Females then lay eggs individually on aquatic plants, carefully folding leaves over each egg as protection—a delicate and meticulous process unique to many newts.