Dr. Stuart has told this story and stated similar concerns before [notably in the paper he refers to here], but this version is also interesting and more informative in some ways. The story of collectors descending on Laotriton and on Goniurosaurus luii [and Excidobates mysteriosus, Ranitomeya sirensis, Excidobates captivus, etc] is not a new one - by definition it's a decade old at this point. He contacted me in 2003 [May 14 - I still have the email], expressing surprise at Laotriton being in the pet trade, although this was based on miscommunication. I suspect that photos I received of preserved specimens prior to their description [email January 26, 2002] led to this, although it was certainly true that they WERE in the trade by then, just not to me! His concerns are obviously valid. I have been able to use published information, mainly when 'exploring' didn't work, to track animals to within feet of where they are known to occur - generally NOT to collect, and certainly not commercially.
What I found MOST interesting though, is the existence of a thesis specifically on Laotriton, which likely contains much more detailed biological data, plus additional work on Lao caudates. There are likely at least a half dozen species of salamander in Laos, mainly tylos, but of three or four genera in total. I expect these to be Tylototriton shanjing, T. cf. shanjing, T.asperrimus, T.cf.vietnamensis, T.vietnamensis, T.notialis, and Laotriton. A Paramesotriton sp., perhaps Hypselotriton sp., and a Pachytriton sp. [a single record in Vietnam, and the sister genus of Laotriton] are possible as well, but less likely. I'm still collecting and reviewing locality and taxonomic data for all of these species, to work out their correct current localities and likely additional occurences.
