China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

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Keeper
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China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by Keeper »

Had a relatively short trip this summer: about two weeks in western Yunnan and one and half month in eastern Tibet.

Because of the limited time, I did not find as many species as I would love to in western Yunnan, especially given the rich diversity of the area. Mostly common species, nothing really excited.

Rhacophorus dugritei
ImageRhacophorus dugritei by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Brachytarsophrys feae. I was freaked out when I first heard its calls. Never thought those are frog calls!
ImageBrachytarsophrys feae by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

A interesting looking Duttaphrynus melanostictus from Tengchong
ImageDuttaphrynus melanostictus by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Fejervarya multistriata
ImageFejervarya multistriata by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Rhacophorus burmanus, very common during the breeding season
ImageRhacophorus burmanus by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Wrong love: Rhacophorus dugritei amplexus with Babina pleuraden
ImageRhacophorus dugritei amplexus with Babina pleuraden by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Hyla gongshanensis gongshanensis
ImageHyla gongshanensis gongshanensis by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

More exciting stuff~Topotypic Tylototriton verrucosus
ImageTylototriton verrucosus by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
ImageTylototriton verrucosus by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Bufo (Torrentophryne) sp. I only found tadpoles and no luck for adults. Cannot ID to species
ImageTorrentophryne sp. by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr


And the most exciting find, Naja kaouthia
ImageNaja kaouthia by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
ImageNaja kaouthia by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
Image_DSC2496 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

fragmented habitats
Image_DSC2373 by Kai Wang, 於 FlickrImage_DSC2315 by Kai Wang, 於 FlickrImage_DSC2574 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Macaque
Image_DSC2589 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

And of course, lovely leech
ImageLand Leach by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
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Re: China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by Keeper »

Unlike my previous trips to Tibet, we focused on the high elevation regions in eastern Tibet and parts of the Hengduan Mountain Ranges. Although we definitely got fewer species compare to 2012 and 2013, the ones we got were mostly endemic and really cool!

Scutiger boulengeri
ImageScutiger boulengeri by Kai Wang, 於 FlickrImage_DSC3788 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Nanorana parkeri
ImageNanorana parkeri by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Scutiger mammatus
ImageScutiger mammatus by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
Image_DSC4451 by Kai Wang, 於 FlickrImage_DSC4505 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Bufo gargarizans (or B. tibetanus if you stick with the old taxonomy)
Image_DSC3957 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
ImageBufo gargarizans (B. tibetanus) by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
Mating ball
ImageMating ball of Bufo gargarizans (B. tibetanus) by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Rana kukunoris
ImageRana kukunoris by Kai Wang, 於 FlickrImageRana kukunoris by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Batrachuperus karlschmidti
ImageBatrachuperus karlschmidti by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Gloydius strauchi
ImageGloydius strauchi by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Thermophis baileyi The habitat at the type locality is ruined by trashes and thermal plants......
Image_DSC3426 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
Image_DSC3427 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr


Japalura batangensis male
ImageJapalura batangensis by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
female
ImageJapalura batangensis by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
ImageJapalura batangensis by Kai Wang, 於 FlickrImage_DSC5123 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

And finally, the new species we described this September, Japalura vela
ImageJapalura vela by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
ImageJapalura vela by Kai Wang, 於 FlickrImageJapalura vela by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

juvenile
ImageJapalura vela by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
Image_DSC5435 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Wish you enjoy the herps and photos as I do :)

Cheers

Kai
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chrish
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Re: China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by chrish »

Outstanding! The Chinese amphibs are neat but the Tibetan stuff is really amazing.

Thanks for posting this.
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Noah M
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Re: China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by Noah M »

This was really fun to look through, esp. the Tibetan stuff.
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Re: China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by NACairns »

Absolutely wonderful. I'm interested by the Scutiger, they are typically high altitude correct? What sort of temperatures would have to endure? Are they diggers or are they always around streams?
Great shots of species we never get to see on here.
Thanks for sharing.
Nick
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Re: China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by Keeper »

NACairns wrote:Absolutely wonderful. I'm interested by the Scutiger, they are typically high altitude correct? What sort of temperatures would have to endure? Are they diggers or are they always around streams?
Great shots of species we never get to see on here.
Thanks for sharing.
Nick
Hi Nick

Thanks for your comment. :)

All Scutiger inhabits high elevation habitats in the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountain Range. The one on the photo (S. boulenger) was found in a stream right under the snow mountain. I did not check the temperature of the water, but I would say it is a little above 0 C (really really cold).

As for their natural history, although we know that S. boulengeri is terrestrial out side the breeding season, we do not know its exact micro-habitats and detailed life history (what do they eat, how do they migrate) in the terrestrial stage. Indeed much work need to be down on this group of amazing amphibians.

Cheers

Kai
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Re: China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by Keeper »

chrish wrote:Outstanding! The Chinese amphibs are neat but the Tibetan stuff is really amazing.

Thanks for posting this.
:D
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Re: China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by Keeper »

Noah M wrote:This was really fun to look through, esp. the Tibetan stuff.
Thanks :)
NACairns
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Re: China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by NACairns »

Hi Kai,
Thanks for the info, sounds like some research is in order.
Best,
Nick
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Kevin Messenger
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Re: China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by Kevin Messenger »

very nice! I'm so far behind on my posts. Over 2 yrs behind. I have one more post for 2013, then all of 2014, then all of 2015... ugh. But either way, happy to see other China posts!
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Re: China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

Very nice, thanks for posting!
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Re: China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by mfb »

Thanks for posting, great stuff! I really appreciated that you put in habitat photos for the different animals. What were the elevations where you were seeing the Batrachuperus karlschmidti, and do you have any habitat photos for them you would be able to share? Mike
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Re: China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

Post by Keeper »

mfb wrote:Thanks for posting, great stuff! I really appreciated that you put in habitat photos for the different animals. What were the elevations where you were seeing the Batrachuperus karlschmidti, and do you have any habitat photos for them you would be able to share? Mike
It was found above 3000m, in relatively slow-flowing shallow streams under forest cover. The attached short video shows the general habitat.

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