Liua shihi

The head is flat, slightly longer than wide; the labial folds are well developed; the premaxilla is large, with two short rows of vomerine teeth, widely spaced, and in an "eight" shape. The trunk is slightly cylindrical; the tail muscles are well developed, the base of the tail is round, and it gradually flattens laterally toward the back; the dorsal fin folds start from the base of the tail, and the tail ends are round. The body and tail are yellow-brown, gray-brown or green-brown, with large dark brown or light yellow spots; the ventral surface is creamy yellow, or with fine dark brown spots.

Endemic to China, distributed in Henan (Shangcheng), Shaanxi (Pingli), Sichuan (Wanyuan), Chongqing (Chengkou, Wuxi, Wushan), Hubei (Shennongjia, Badong, Yichang).

Lives in mountainous areas with an altitude of 900-2350m.

Habitat: This salamander lives in mountainous areas with an altitude of 900 to 2350m. Adults mostly live in small mountain streams, which are generally 1 to 2m wide and 10 to 25cm deep, with rich vegetation on both sides.

Habits: Adult salamanders mainly feed on aquatic insects such as Trichoptera and their larvae, shrimps, and algae. During the breeding season, female salamanders lay a pair of egg bags, one end of which is connected to form a handle and adhered to the bottom of the stone in the water. The newly hatched larvae are 24 to 28mm in length and mostly live under stones with gentle water flow or between stones on the shore.  

Breeding season: March, April.

Listed in the second level of the "List of National Key Protected Wildlife in China".