Ryukyu Acanthus is an amphibian of the family Salamandridae and the genus Acanthus. It lives in mountain forests at an altitude of 100 to 200 meters, and is concentrated near cultivated areas. It usually lives under rocks in the shade and wet areas of mountain forests. In the non-breeding season, adult Ryukyu Acanthus prefers to live on land. During the day, it hides under fallen leaves, wood or rocks to rest. It goes out to hunt at night or on rainy days. It usually feeds on small invertebrates, insects and their larvae.
Its egg-laying period is from late January to late June every year, and the eggs are laid in fallen leaves or humus soil on the slopes of still water banks. The breeding season is from early February to the end of June, and the peak breeding season is from mid-March to early April. The eggs are laid on humus soil or rotten leaves near the pond. The eggs are single, and the eggs are piled up, often covered by fallen leaves. After hatching, the larvae enter the pond by bouncing or rain impact. It takes 55 to 100 days from hatching to metamorphosis. The growth period is shorter when the water temperature is high, and longer when the water temperature is low.
The wild Ryukyu spinytail has become extinct in Taiwan, China. In fact, there are very few small streams in Taiwan's low-altitude environment that are relatively primitive, which is the reason for the disappearance of the newt.
Listed in the second level of the "List of National Key Protected Wildlife in China".