Long-Term Rearing of Two Cynops Species and Fertility of Old Cynops ensicauda popei (Amphibia: Urodela)

Abstract

Long-term rearing of Cynops pyrrhogaster and Cynops ensicauda popei confirmed that the longevities of the two species were longer than 36 years; C. pyrrhogaster longer than 37 years and C. e. popei longer than 36 years, respectively. The male C. e. popei that was 34 years old or older showed reproductive behavior with a conspecific young female and successfully bred. The paternal relationships between the old male and the six offspring were also genetically proven, indicating that the male C. e. popei retained its fertility at the age of 34 or older. Since physiological longevity and reproductive ability are important parameters for life history studies, our findings are meaningful for the conservation of the species.