Longevity in salamandrid newts – a rule, not an exception? Verified cases of Japanese Fire-bellied Newts (Cynops pyrrhogaster) reaching a lifespan of more than 40 years

Abstract

We report on verified cases of longevity in the Japanese Fire-bellied Newt Cynops pyrrhogaster. Two individuals obtained as adults in 1978 died in July 2008 and November 2017, resulting in an individual minimum lifespan of 33 and 42 years, respectively, possibly even longer. Another four individuals of C. pyrrhogaster were received in 1975 and living now for more than 47 years, with two individuals received as adults likely having reached a lifespan of 50 years already. Another adult male C. pyrrhogaster was obtained in 1991 and died in 2022 at an accordingly estimated age of >34 years. Previously reported lifespans for C. pyrrhogaster in human care were 20-25 years, with only a single report of 40 years. However, other species of Cynops and Hypselotriton are also apparently long-lived, such as H. cyanurus chuxiongensis (25 years), H. orientalis (32 years), and C. ensicauda (43 years). With these documented cases, the lifespan of Fire-bellied Newts is exceeded only by few other species of Caudata, such as Andrias japonicus (70 years), Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, Salamandra salamandra (>50 years), and Proteus anguis (100 years). Our report thus indicates that decades-long lifespans in salamandrid newts, viz. substantial longevity, might be rather common and could be considered a rule, not an exception.