review of non-cites amphibia species that are known or likely to be ...

REVIEW OF NON-CITES AMPHIBIA SPECIES THAT ARE KNOWN OR LIKELY TO BE IN
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
AMPHIBIA: SALAMANDRIDAE
SPECIES:
Neurergus microspilotus
SYNONYMS:
COMMON NAMES:
RANGE STATES:
IUCN RED LIST:
PREVIOUS EC OPINIONS:
Kurdistan Newt (English)
Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq?, Turkey?
Endangered
n/a
TRADE PATTERNS:
Neurergus microspilotus specimens have been reportedly seen at the Teheran market bound for
the pet trade (AmphibiaWeb, 2007).
The species is sometimes seen in the illegal pet trade, which is an increasing threat to the
species (IUCN et al., 2007), and considered one of the major threats by the Global Amphibian
Assessment Group (IUCN et al., 2007).
Smugglers, pet keepers, and possibly some tourists were reported to capture Neurergus spp.
in Iran and export them illegally (Rastegar-Pouyani, pers. comm., 2007). The Iranian
authorities have apparently been informed about the situation (Rastegar-Pouyani, pers.
comm., 2007).
No specific evidence of trade in this particular species was identified, except for information
on the species and on how to keep it as a pet provided on the Austrian hobbyist website
http://www.salamanderland.at/Artenliste/N.microspilotus/NEURERGUS.MICROSPILOT
US.htm.
Additionally, the title of the forum relating to this genus on the website
http://www.caudata.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=39 reads “Near and Middle Eastern
Newts (Neurergus) – Arguably the most beautiful newts in the world, this Asian genus is
highly desired by many hobbyists”.
CONSERVATION STATUS IN RANGE STATES
N. microspilotus was listed as globally Endangered, because “its extent of occurrence is less
than 5,000 km² and its area of occupancy is less than 500 km², it is known from only four
streams, and there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its stream habitat, and
in the number of subpopulations and individuals” (IUCN et al., 2007).
Neurergus microspilotus is restricted to the Avroman Mountains on the Iraq-Iran-Turkey
Border (Leviton et al., 1992) where it was known from five streams, but is now restricted to
only four (IUCN et al., 2007).
Rastegar-Pouyani (2006) noted that the species is found in Iran and also in north-eastern Iraq
and south-eastern Turkey. Leviton et al. (1992) considered the species to occur in the Iraqi and
Iranian Kurdistan. However, according to IUCN et al. (2007) and to Amphibiaweb (2007), the
presence of the species in Iraq and Turkey needs confirmation.
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