New rare amphibian species at Chemnitz Zoo
Since August, the vivarium at Chemnitz Zoo has been enriched by a rarity. Ten Anatolian crested newts(Triturusanatolicus) have been brought to Chemnitz as captive-bred specimens from a private breeding centre. The zoo is not only the first, but also the only zoological institution in Europe to exhibit this species. The animals can now also be seen by visitors.
Another special feature of this species is that it was only described as a separate species in 2016. Before that, it was categorised as the Persian crested newt(Triturus karelinii) or the Balkan crested newt(Triturus ivanbureschi).
Triturus anatolicus is native to the Asian part of Turkey. The addition anatolicus to the genus in the scientific name also refers to this. Anatolia is the part of present-day Turkey that belongs to the Near East. The species occurs there along the Black Sea coast, from the Bosporus and Bursa in the west to Trabzon in the east.
As the species was only described a few years ago, only limited data is available. As a result, no information can be provided on the endangered status of the species. However, it is known that the Anatolian crested newt does not cope well with changes in water quality. In this respect, the species is severely affected by environmental pollution and the associated loss of habitat. For this reason, amphibians are considered the most threatened class of vertebrates worldwide.
In addition to the Anatolian crested newt, four other species of the genus Triturus can be seen at Chemnitz Zoo, including its sister species, the Persian crested newt.
www.tierpark-chemnitz.de
Zoo and wildlife park - opening hours from November to February:
9 am to 4 pm, last admission 3 pm