Ukrainian Ridge Newt?

[jennifer]

Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine, December 2002: "Ukrainian Ridge Newt. Small numbers of this prehistoric-looking newt have been available in German shops. Little is known of the species reportedly caught in the Ukraine."

The photo shows a male banded newt in full crest. Somehow I suspect this is just a known variety of T. vittatus being smuggled through the Ukraine. I wish I could post the picture, but that would probably violate copyright.

 

[aaron]

Could maybe be T. cristatus. I got some as "ukrainian" newts.

~Aaron

 

[aaron]

Sorry, I misread your post. Disregard my last post.

~Aaron

 

[caleb]

T. vittatus ophryticus are exported legally from the Ukraine at the moment, there have been loads exported to Europe over the last few years. Alexander Tsukanov of www.caudatu.ru tells me that 'thousands' are sold in Moscow every spring.

 

[david]

I saw the small article you are speaking of. It sure doesn't look like a cristatus to me. If it is somebody please get me some. Seriously, I would buy that it could be a subspecies of cristatus, but nonetheless it is a beautiful animal.