Sword-tail newt　／　Japanese sword-tail newt

An endemic species distributed in the central Ryukyu Islands including Amami Island, Tokunoshima, Okinawa Island and the Kerama Islands. Body length reaches roughly 10 to 14 cm. In Okinawa, they are commonly seen. The color of their back is often black or dark brown and their ventral surface is red or orange. They look like the Japanese fire-bellied newt found on mainland Japan, but they can be distinguished by its slightly larger size with a longer and thinner tail.  Usually the sword-tailed newt inhabits wetlands, but at times can be seen crawling along mountain paths after rain.