Nanhu Salamander

Hynobius glacialis is a moderately large species, the largest among Taiwanese Hynobius. Adult SVL ranges from 47.8-67.4 mm, and tail length from 37.1-56.5 mm. Head and body roughly form a cylinder. Eyes are protuberant. The number of vomerine teeth (U-shaped) ranges from 42-80; number of upper jaw teeth from 47-74; and number of lower jaw teeth from 45-75. There are usually 12 costal grooves (range is 11-13) between the limbs. Tips of fore- and hindlimb toes touch when limbs are adpressed to the flank. Feet are small with discrete digits: four unwebbed toes on each forelimb and five unwebbed toes on each hindlimb.Yellowish brown dorsal side is decorated evenly with deep black, irregular, short stripes. Ventral side of the head is gray brown, with numerous pale yellow spots. Trunk and limbs are gray to dark gray ventrally, with pale yellow blotches near flanks. Individuals vary in the number of dorsal black stripes and ventral yellow blotches.Hynobius glacialis is similar to H. sonani in morphology, but has a narrower head and shorter hindlimbs. The specific name glacialis is Latin for glacial or icy, referring to the glacial relics on Mount Nanhuda.

Occurs in the northern Central and Syueshan Mountains Ranges of Taiwan at altitudes over 3000 m. Hynobius glacialis lives in the vicinity of alpine tundra, generally along creeks, cold springs, and seepages. During the day, they hide under rocks on gravel beds.

Hynobius glacialis, the Nanhu salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Hynobiidae, endemic to Taiwan. Its common name refers to the type locality, Nanhu Mountain. The mountain contains glacial relic formations, the reason for the species epithet glacialis.

Nanhu salamanders are known from the northern Central Mountain Range and the Syueshan Mountain Range from above 3,000 m (9,800 ft). They are parapatric with H. formosanus that occurs at lower altitudes. They live near alpine tundra, usually beside creeks, cold springs, and seepages, usually hiding during the day. Their reproductive biology remains unknown.

The Nanhu salamander is medium-sized; adults are about 4.8–6.7 cm (1.9–2.6 in) in snout–vent length; it is the largest Taiwanese hynobiid.