About Neurergus kaiseri Schmidt, 1952
Neurergus kaiseri, commonly called the Luristan newt, Kaiser's mountain newt, Kaiser's spotted newt, or emperor spotted newt, is a species of salamander in the family Salamandridae, and should not be confused with Tylototriton shanjing. This species is endemic to the southern Zagros Mountains in Iran, where it has only been recorded from four streams. Its populations have been declining, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as vulnerable. Multiple zoos have established a captive breeding program for the species. The Luristan newt is endemic to the southern Zagros Mountains of Iran. It primarily lives in highland streams surrounded by arid scrubland, but can also occur in ponds and pools. It is only known from four streams within a single catchment area, with a total currently inhabited area of 8,948 km² (3,454.8 mi²). A recent study found that the area of suitable habitat within the study area was 18,159 km² (7,011.2 mi²). Water is not present in this newt's habitat for a large part of the year; during this dry period, the species moves out into the surrounding woodland, which is predominantly made up of oak and pistachio trees, and estivates. While the Luristan newt currently occurs in the Zagros Mountains of Iran, recent studies conclude that climate change will push the species to shift its future distribution into small portions of southern Iran including Kermanshah, Ilam, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, and Kohgiluye-Boyerahmad.
