These newts are popular within the pet trade. It is endemic to subtropical forests in East-Central China and prefers to live in shallow, semi-aquatic environments such as abandoned paddies and ponds with dense vegetation. Like many amphibians, the Chinese fire belly newt hibernates. It is a small 2.2–4.0 inches (5.6–10.2 cm) black newt, with bright-orange aposematic coloration on their ventral sides. This newt is mildly poisonous and excretes toxins through its skin. Consisting primarily of tetrodotoxins, newts of the genus Cynops pose a medically significant threat if enough toxins are consumed, and toxins may cause numbness or irritation on skin contact.