Observe and photograph a species in its natural habitat
Learn where and when to observe a species in the wild, how to recognize it in the field, and what habitats it lives in. Get photography tips adapted to its behavior and capture stunning images without disturbing the animal. For full details, open the complete profile in the WildlifePhotographer app.
Japanese fire‐bellied newt
Scientific name: Cynops pyrrhogaster
IUCN Status: Near Threatened
Family: SALAMANDRIDAE
Group: Amphibians
Shyness: Suspicious
Safe distance: 1 m
Breeding season / Courtship: 01.10-30.06
Gestation: 20 jours
Births: 15.04-15.07
Habitat:
calm freshwater habitats, ponds, forest streams and wetlands
Description:
The Japanese fire‐bellied newt is a medium‐sized aquatic salamander (10–12 cm body length), with a dark dorsum and bright red belly marked with black spots. Endemic to Japan, it inhabits ponds, forest pools and slow‐flowing streams, feeding on invertebrates, worms and small crustaceans. Gregarious and secretive, it performs tail‐fanning courtship displays and aggregates in sheltered bays during breeding.
Recommended lens:
>=Macro
Photography tips:
Position yourself close to ground near the water’s edge using a macro lens (≥100 mm) mounted on a tripod or monopod to minimize shake. Set aperture to f/11 for maximum depth of field and shutter speed to at least 1/500 s to freeze quick movements. Use an off-camera flash or diffused LED light to illuminate without glare, and shoot during twilight hours to capture natural newt behavior. Shoot in RAW to adjust exposure and color in post-production.
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