China 2015: Western Yunnan and Eastern Tibet

[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
Rhacophorus dugritei by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

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

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

Fejervarya multistriata
Fejervarya multistriata by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

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

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

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

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

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


And the most exciting find, Naja kaouthia
Naja kaouthia by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
Naja kaouthia by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
_DSC2496 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

fragmented habitats
_DSC2373 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr_DSC2315 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr_DSC2574 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Macaque
_DSC2589 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

And of course, lovely leech
Land Leach by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

[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
Scutiger boulengeri by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr_DSC3788 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Nanorana parkeri
Nanorana parkeri by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Scutiger mammatus
Scutiger mammatus by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
_DSC4451 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr_DSC4505 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Bufo gargarizans (or B. tibetanus if you stick with the old taxonomy)
_DSC3957 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
Bufo gargarizans (B. tibetanus) by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
Mating ball
Mating ball of Bufo gargarizans (B. tibetanus) by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Rana kukunoris
Rana kukunoris by Kai Wang, 於 FlickrRana kukunoris by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Batrachuperus karlschmidti
Batrachuperus karlschmidti by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Gloydius strauchi
Gloydius strauchi by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Thermophis baileyi The habitat at the type locality is ruined by trashes and thermal plants......
_DSC3426 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
_DSC3427 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr


Japalura batangensis male
Japalura batangensis by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
female
Japalura batangensis by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
Japalura batangensis by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr_DSC5123 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

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

juvenile
Japalura vela by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
_DSC5435 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Wish you enjoy the herps and photos as I do

Cheers

Kai

[chrish]

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

Thanks for posting this.

[Noah M]

This was really fun to look through, esp. the Tibetan stuff.

[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

[Keeper]

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

[Keeper]

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

Thanks for posting this.

[Keeper]

This was really fun to look through, esp. the Tibetan stuff.

Thanks

[NACairns]

Hi Kai,
Thanks for the info, sounds like some research is in order.
Best,
Nick

[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!

[Hans Breuer (twoton)]

Very nice, thanks for posting!

[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

[Keeper]

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.