- Where to see one
- 5 U.S. zoos in our directory hold emperor newt, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the emperor newt
The emperor newt, also called the Mandarin newt, is a highly toxic newt native to Yunnan and parts of southern China. It grows up to 8 inches (20 cm) long, with a dark, almost black body, a ridged orange head, and an orange ridge down its back, flanked by rows of orange bumps that are its poison glands. It lives in pools and slow-moving streams in subtropical forests at 1,000 to 2,500 metres, and eats small invertebrates such as crickets and worms. Its slow movement is offset by its bright warning coloration and nocturnal habits.
Emperor Newt facts
- It holds enough toxin to kill approximately 7,500 mice.
- When grabbed, its rib tips squeeze poison out of the glands along its back.
- Its vertebrae and skull have especially thick bone.
- It was long classified together with the Himalayan newt.
Where to see emperor newt in the U.S.
5 zoos across 5 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 5 zoos holding emperor newt by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
Colorado· 1
District of Columbia· 1
Illinois· 1
Kansas· 1
Michigan· 1
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
