Kurdistan newt

Neurergus derjugini, the Kurdistan newt,^[3] Kordestan newt, Derjugin's (Kordestan) mountain newt, or yellow-spotted mountain newt, is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae.^[1][2] It is found in Kurdistan in western Iran^[3][1][2] and in northeastern Iraq.^[3][2][4][5] There are two subspecies, Neurergus derjugini derjugini and Neurergus derjugini microspilotus,^[2][4][5] the latter is sometimes known as the Avroman Dagh newt.^[2]

Kurdistan newt
Neurergus derjugini in Kavat stream, near Ravansar city, Kermansah province, Rojhalat.
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Urodela
Family:	Salamandridae
Genus:	Neurergus
Species:	N. derjugini
Binomial name
Neurergus derjugini (Nesterov [ru], 1916)
Synonyms[2]
Rhithrotriton derjugini Nesterov, 1916 Rhithrotriton derjugini var. microspilotus Nesterov, 1916 Neurergus microspilotus (Nesterov, 1916)

Taxonomy

The species was first described by Pyotr Nesterov in 1916 based on a population in the Surkev Mountains. He described a second population from the Avroman region as a subspecies microspilotus which varied in the number of yellow spots and the spots being more circular. The two have been considered subspecies and only show minor differences in their mitochondrial DNA sequences and slightly more prominent differences in a nuclear gene sequence.^[4][5]

Etymology

The species name derjugini commemorates the collector Konstantin Deryugin.

Habitat and conservation

Neurergus derjugini occurs in small streams at elevations of 1,300–1,865 m (4,265–6,119 ft) above sea level.^[1][5] It is threatened by droughts, water extraction, pollution, and collection for pet trade.^[1] It is known from a small number of populations, most of them very small.^[4] Climate change is going to reduce the habitable areas for this species.^[3]