China 2017: Eastern Tibet and Hengduan Mountain Region

[Keeper]

Another trip to Southwest China. Focusing on the agamid of the genus Japalura this time, most of my sites are at high elevation: above 2000m in most cases. Therefore, the diversity is relatively low comparing to my previous trips to the lowland tropics in southwestern Yunnan Province.

Nevertheless, Japalura species are COOL, and I found few other plateau dwelling herps that are endemic to the Hengduan Mountain Region. Plus, even with no herps, the views are just beautiful...

Hope you enjoy!

Kai



Continuous snow mountain peaks, very common in the Hengduan Mountain Region. They separate the major rivers of Asia (Mekong, Yangtze, and Salween) into deep valleys, and the three rivers run parallel to each other in close proximity.

_DSC6531 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
_DSC6116 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr


Mekong River Valley. The elevation difference from the river to the mountain peak is just insane...(generally over 2000m of difference)

_DSC6558 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

_DSC6259 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr


Yu'beng (Chinese 雨崩), a famous scenic site in NW Yunnan Province.

_DSC6690 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
_DSC6752 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
_DSC6761 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr


Crazy breeding season in high-elevation swamp at Yu'Beng

mating toads


Alpine Salamander, Batrachuperus karlschmidti, inhabits fast-flowing, shallow streams over 3000m of elevation.

_DSC6335 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
_DSC6312 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

_DSC6291


Chinese Beauty Snake, Orthriophis taeniurus. The high-elevation populations in SW China have their unique greenish coloration.

IMG_6613 by Cameron Siler, 於 Flickr
_DSC5995 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr


Another species of snake that manage to concur the high-elevation. Chinese King Rat Snake, Elaphe carinata
Found it in the sewer along a montane road

IMG_6761
_DSC6473 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr
_DSC6455 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

Japalura iadina, still my favourite species among all Japalura

_DSC6868 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr


Japalura flaviceps. Thought to be widespread in SW China, but actually is micro-endemic to Dadu River of Sichuan Province only, and the previous wide range is result of mis-ID and taxonomic confusion. Sadly, it is facing great threats from habitat loss due to hydropower constructions and road developments, just like other species of the genus in SW China.

_DSC5903 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr_DSC5952 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr


Japalura micangshanensis

_DSC7191 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr


Japalura zhaoermii This is a female, which does not have the green gular spot

_DSC7250 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr


Japalura varcoae

_DSC7200 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr_DSC7198 by Kai Wang, 於 Flickr

[Fieldherper]

Very nice account of an interesting area that few outside of China will probably ever see. Thanks!

FH