Emperor Newt

Tylototriton shanjing

A highly toxic, black-and-orange newt with bony head ridges from the mountains of western China.

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About the Emperor Newt

Emperor newts, also called Mandarin or Yunnan newts, are 4.5 to 6 inches long. They are dark brownish-black with orange or yellow markings, bony ridges on the head and back, and a row of warts on each side. They live only in mountains along a few rivers in western Yunnan, China. They eat earthworms, centipedes, snails and other small invertebrates.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Tylototriton shanjing^[1]
Size: 4.5 to 6 inches long.^[1]
Diet: Earthworms, centipedes, snails and other small invertebrates.^[1]
Habitat: Mountain land habitats; rice paddies, ponds and wet grasslands for breeding.^[1]
Where it lives: Western Yunnan province, China.^[1]
Babies: Eggs attached to rocks and water plants.^[1]
Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List, assessed 2019).^[2]

Fun facts

Its species name means 'mountain spirit' in Mandarin.^[1]
Courting newts swim in circles nose to nose.^[1]
It is very toxic.^[1]

Vocabulary

toxin: A poison made by a living thing.
monsoon: A season of heavy rain.
amphibian: A cold-blooded animal, such as a frog or salamander, that usually starts life in water and has moist skin.
warning coloration: Bright colors that tell predators an animal is dangerous to eat.
vulnerable: A conservation label meaning a species faces a high risk of dying out in the wild.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Reptile Discovery CenterSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Emperor newt.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/emperor-newt (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Tylototriton shanjing (Emperor Newt).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/59485/63871498 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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