Genetic Diversity and the Origin-tracing Analysis in Cynops orientalis Traded Online

As the internet economy and logistics sector continue to advance, a growing number of amphibians are being traded as exotic pets on online platforms. Consequently, online commerce has emerged as a significant contributor to illegal wildlife trading. In this study, we employed the Chinese red-bellied newts (Cynops orientalis) as a case study to evaluate the genetic variability from five different regions (Guangxi, Guangdong, Henan, Liaoning, and Shandong) in China. Our primary objective was to examine the impact of online trading on the genetic diversity among different populations of C. orientalis. Furthermore, we performed an origin tracing analysis for C. orientalis listed on diverse online marketplaces. The findings reveal that the newt populations originated from different geographical regions exhibited exceptionally high genetic diversity, with haplotype diversity values more than 0.95. Notably, some of newts sold on online trading platforms come from wild populations in Anhui and Zhejiang provinces. In brief, our study developed a molecular tracing technology based on mitochondrial DNA for C. orientalis, providing an effective technical approach to the management of online wildlife trades and offering valuable recommendations for regulating such activities.