The Laotian Newt, Laotriton laoensis, became known to science when the species authority, Brian Stuart, was attending a Laotian wedding where he was offered a drink with this newt in it. Soon after describing the species, several pet traders raided the locality from where it was described and collected massive numbers of the species. It is currently listed as ‘Data Deficient’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM, because there is still work needed to identify its full range. It is currently known from the Saysomboun Special Zone, as well as Phoukhout District in Xiangkhouang Province, in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. It seems to be relatively common where it is known.
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The major threat to this species is the local harvesting of it for medicine, food, and the pet trade. Its habitat of streams and dry shrubland are not being threatened.
Few conservation methods are in place, mainly due to the lack of data available on the species. Addressing this lack of data would be the first step in moving toward conservation of the species.
Submit your observations of this species to iNaturalist and they will appear on this map. Learn more about this species on Amphibiaweb.
More Amazing Amphibians here.
Produced in partnership with:
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How to become an Amazing Amphibians partner:
Outlined below are the roles and responsibilities for the 4 different levels of involvement for potential partners. If your organization would like to be a part of the Amazing Amphibians program in either of these capacities please email amazing@amphibians.org.
Senior Partner – These partners will help with multiple aspects of the program, help facilitate the completion of several species profiles, publicize each Amazing Amphibian and will likely have a landing page for the program on their website. This level of partner will be leading in using their communication channels to gather additional information for the program such as images and data points for iNaturalist.
Strategic Partner – These partners will play an active role in creating species profiles, submitting at least three species profiles per year and actively use their social network to publicize each Amazing Amphibian. This level of partner will be active in using their communication channels to gather additional information for the program such as images and data points for iNaturalist.
Focal Partner – Partners tend to be active in a limited geographic area. This partner will submit at least one regional species profile per year and use their social network to publicize each Amazing Amphibian. This level of partner will be involved in using their communication channels to gather additional information at a regional level for the program such as images and data points for iNaturalist.
Affiliate – These partners are interested in promoting the program but might not be in a position to provide profiles. These partners will publicize each Amazing Amphibian through the social media outlets.
