Staff at Heyuan Daguishan Provincial Nature Reserve have captured close-range footage of two rare species for the first time: the four-eyed turtle and the spotted paddle-tail newt.
The four-eyed turtle, listed as a national second-class protected species in China and classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, is named for the two pairs of eye-like markings on the back of its head. It typically inhabits mountain streams and is highly sensitive to environmental changes, making it an important indicator of water quality.
Also recorded was a 20-centimeter-long adult spotted paddle-tail newt, a rare amphibian often described as a "living fossil" dating back to the age of dinosaurs. Characterized by its stout body and dark spots, the species usually lives in mountain streams at elevations between 800 and 1,700 meters.
Both species have strict requirements for water quality and habitat. Their presence in stable populations suggests that the reserve's aquatic ecosystem remains healthy. The Nature Reserve Administration stated that it will step up ecological protection and scientific research to conserve biodiversity and maintain ecosystem stability.
Author | Huang Xinying
Photo | Heyuan Fabu
