Kaiser's spotted newt [SEP] parent taxon
Kaiser's spotted newt
Kaiser's spotted newt ("Neurergus kaiseri"), also known as the Luristan newt or emperor spotted newt (not to be confused with "Tylototriton shanjing"), is a species of very colourful salamander in the family Salamandridae. It is endemic to the southern Zagros Mountains in Iran where it is known from just four streams. Populations of this newt have been declining and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as "vulnerable". A captive breeding programme has been established in
Palaeopleurodeles"
Conservation status.
Although some species, such as the rough-skinned newt ("Taricha granulosa") in North America or the smooth newt ("Lissotriton vulgaris") in Europe, are still relatively common, populations of newts throughout their distribution range suffer from habitat loss, fragmentation, and pollution. This affects especially the aquatic breeding sites they depend on, but also their land habitats. Several species, such as the Edough ribbed newt ("Pleurodeles poireti"), Kaiser's spotted newt (