Hynobius-takedai (Amphibia, Urodela), a new species of salamander from Japan

Abstract

A new species of salamander, Hynobius takedai, is described from the lowland of Ishikawa Prefecture, on the Japan Sea side of the Chubu District, Central Japan. It belongs to the lichenatus group of Hynobius, and is characterized by the intermediate adult morphology between H. lichenatus and H. abei, large clutch size, absence of striations on the egg sac envelope, and unique electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins. The new species is considered most closely related to H. lichenatus of northeastern Japan.