A New Species of the Amolops mantzorum Group (Anura: Ranidae: Amolops) from Northwestern Hunan Province, China

We described anew species of the Amolops mantzorum group(Anura:Ranidae) from northwestern Hunan Province,China based on morphological and molecular evidence.The new species differs from its congeners by a combination of the following characteristics:moderate body size of SVL 403-409 mm in adult males(N=3),and 52.6-57.7 mm in adult females(N=3);head length about equal to or larger than head width(HDL/HDW 1.01-1.03);skin on dorsum smooth;dorsolateral folds absent,but developed a series of elongated glands forming an incomplete line;dense small spiny tubercles on lower flanks,and sparse flat tubercles on upper flanks;skin on belly slightly granular,posterior half of ventral surface of thigh glandular;tympanum indistinct,small,covered by glandular skin;presence of dense spiny tubercles around the mouth corner;vomerine teeth present,attached on two oblique ridges;presence of supernumerary tubercles below the bases of fingers Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ;several protruding tubercles around the cloacal region,with a pair of larger tubercles on sides of the anus;webs on each side of toe Ⅳ reaches the region between third subarticular tubercle and digit;and absence of vocal sacs and linea masculine in males.

A New Species of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker,1860(Reptilia:Squamata)from Hunan Province,China

A new species of gekkonid,Hemiphyllodactylus dupanglingensis sp.nov.,is described based on six specimens from Hunan Province,China.The new species is phylogenetically close to H.zugi,H.hongkongensis,H.dushanensis,and H.huishuiensis,and can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of cha racters:9-11 chin scales;postmental scales enlarged;9-12 infralabials,11-14 supralabials;14-16 dorsal scales and 10-11 ventral scales longitudinally arranged at the midbody contained with one eye diameter;a manual lamellar formula of 4-4-5-4 or 4-5-5-4 and a pedal lamellar formula of 4-5-5-5 or 5-6-6-4;21-25 continuous precloacal and femoral pores in males.

Using Head Patch Pattern as a Reliable Biometric Character for Noninvasive Individual Recognition of an Endangered Pitviper Protobothrops mangshanensis

Mangshan pitviper, Protobothrops mangshanensis （formerly Zhaoermia mangshanensis） is endemic to China. Unfortunately, due to the decreasing size of its wild populations, this snake has been listed as critically endangered. Re- search carried out on the Mangshan pitviper＇s population ecology and captive reproduction has revealed that the unique head patch patterns of different individuals may potentially be used as a noninvasive recognition biometric character. We collected head patch pattern images of 40 individuals of P. mangshanensis between 1994 and 2011. By comparing each pitviper＇s head patch pattern, we found that the head patch pattern of individual snakes was different and unique. Additionally, we observed and recorded the head patch pattern characters of four adults and five juveniles before and af- ter ecdysis. Our findings confirmed that head patch patterns of Mangshan pitvipers are unique and stable, remaining un- changed after ecdysis. Thus, individuals can be quickly identified by examining the head patch pattern within a specific recognition area on the head. This method may be useful for noninvasive individual recognition in many other species that display color patch pattern variations, especially in studies of endangered species where the use of invasive marking techniques is undesirable.

A New Species of the Genus Tylototriton (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Northeastern Hunan Province, China

We describe a new species from the family Salamandridae from northeastern Hunan Province of China based on morphological and molecular genetic evidences.The new species,Tylototriton liuyangensis,is a member of the T.asperrimus group,and shares a number of similarities with T.wenxianensis and T.broadoridgus.The dorsal surface of the new Tylototriton species is completely black,with nodule-like warts distributed evenly along the lateral margin of dorsal body,and there is no transverse striae between the warts.There are several diagnostic characters of the new species that differ from those of T.wenxianensis and T.broadoridgus as follows：（1）the interorbital space（IOS）is comparatively wide;（2）there is a bony ridge present on the dorsal head surface,running along the upper eyelids;（3）the space between axilla and groin（AGS）is comparatively large,with the mean male AGS approximately equal to 50%of the snout-vent length（SVL）and the mean female AGS being 53%of SVL;and（4）there is a small genital armature on the anterior angle of labial folds present inside the anal fissure of adult males during the breeding season.The result from the molecular phylogenetic analysis of the genus Tylototriton（including the type specimen of the new species）based on the complete DNA sequence of the mitochondrial ND2 gene（1035 bp）indicated that the new species was similar to T.wenxianensis,T.dabienicus,and T.broadoridgus,but formed an independent clade.This result was consistent with the morphological analysis above,supporting that the Liuyang Population represented a distinct species.

A New Species of the Genus Protobothrops(Squamata: Viperidae) from Southern Tibet, China and Sikkim, India

A new species of the genus Protobothrops Hoge ＆ Romano-Hoge, 1983, was described from Jilong County, southern Tibet, China, and Chungthang, northern Sikkim, India. It differs from congeners by the following characters： 1） relatively large body size （total length up to 1510 mm）; 2） dorsal scale rows 25-25-19; 3） except for the smooth outermost row, dorsal scales are weakly keeled; 4） relatively high number of ventral （198-216） and subcaudal （65-76 pairs） scales; 5） 7-8 supralabials; 6） 11 to 13 infralabials; 7） dorsal head uniform dark brown, laterally a reddish-brown obscure postocular streak; 8） dorsum of trtmk and tail olive, with distinct black edged red brown transverse bands across the body and tail; and 9） eye from bright brown and reddish brown to mildly brown. The new species was also observed from the Haa Valley in western Bhutan.

Catalogue of the Type Specimens of Amphibians and Reptiles in the Herpetological Museum of the Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences: Ⅳ. Lizards(Reptilia, Sauria)

In the present study, we report the six type specimens and two paratypes of eight lizard species in the Herpetological Museum of the Chengdu Institute of Biology（CIB）, Chinese Academy of Sciences（CAS）. Each entry provides the information of the original description, the catalog number of the holotype, sex, type locality, and information of allotype and paratype（if any）, number and distribution of deposited specimens, and comments. Additionally, two invalid species and one invalid subspecies are discussed.

Metagenomic Analysis of Mangshan Pit Viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis) Gut Microbiota Reveals Differences among Wild and Captive Individuals Linked to Hibernating Behaviors

Gut microbiota play important roles in the immunity,digestion,and energy meta bolism of their reptile hosts.Mangshan pit viper(Protobothrops mangshanensis)is a critically endangered snake species that is a Class I national protected species in China.Little is known regarding the relationship between P.mangshanensis and their gut microbial communities.In this study,the gut microbiota of wild P.mangshanensis individuals,artificially hiberna ting captive individuals,and non-hibernating captive individuals were compared across nine samples.Comparative shotgun metagenomic analysis was used to investigate the taxonomic composition,diversity,and function of P.mangshanensis gut microbial communities and assess whether their gut microbiomes were affected by their living environments and captivity conditions.The dominant phyla within P.mangshanensis gut microbial communities were Proteobacteria(65.55%),Bacteroidetes(15.97%),and Firmicutes(8.11%).Enriched functional pathways within the gut microbiota included meta bolism(54.9%),environmental information processing(9.67%),and genetic information processing(9.37%).Wild snake gut communities exhibited higher microbial diversity than the other two groups.The gut microbiomes of wild and hibernating captive snakes may be more reflective of healthy intestinal homeostasis than that in nonhibernating snakes.Specifically,non-hibernating snakes exhibited increased levelsof potentially pathogenic populations and functional specialization within gut microbial communities.Thus,different livingenvironments and captivitymethodsmay correspond to major shifts in microbiota composition,diversity,and function within P.mangshanensis.This study provides important insights to help guide the conservation of P.mangshanensis,while also carrying broad implications for our understanding of the effects of living environments and non-hibernating captivity conditions on the gut microbiota of snakes.

滇西北高山微水体与溪流生境底栖动物多样性和环境特征

高山微水体由于面积微小且通过地表径流形成串联结构常常被认为与高山溪流具有类似的生境,然而由于这两类生境中环境因子与底栖动物多样性存在差异,它们在生态系统中的作用可能完全不同。滇西北地区是全球生物多样性热点区域之一,境内高山微水体和高山溪流分布密集,在区域底栖生物多样性维持方面具有重要的功能,然而目前对这两类高山淡水生态系统的研究较少。为了比较这两类生境环境因子的异同及其对底栖动物多样性的维持作用,2015年6月,作者在云南省怒江州贡山县的高山峡谷内,对27个高山微水体和同区域分布的1条高山溪流(海拔高差500 m范围)的底栖动物多样性和水环境因子进行了实地调查。结果表明:(1)高山微水体和高山溪流底栖动物群落中优势分类单元种群数量均比较庞大,而稀有分类单元数量较多且种群较小;(2)两种生境在环境因子、物种多样性、功能多样性和群落结构方面的差异明显,高山溪流有较高的物种丰富度、物种多样性和功能多样性;(3)高山微水体底栖动物多样性的分布与水环境因子无关,而高山溪流底栖动物多样性与群落结构的形成受到与流速关联的水环境因子和海拔的影响。因此,高山微水体与高山溪流不能简单地视为类似的生境类型,它们对区域底栖动物多样性和生态功能维持可能具有不同的作用。

新疆阿勒泰地区爬行动物区系及多样性海拔分布格局

中国阿勒泰地区是北半球中纬度地区的特殊区域,与俄罗斯、哈萨克斯坦、蒙古接壤,境内有平原、沙漠和山地三大地貌特征。2014–2016年,我们先后3次对阿勒泰地区爬行动物资源开展了实地调查,共采集到392号爬行动物标本。经鉴定隶属1目6科16种,结合文献资料,共计1目8科23种,均为古北界物种,其中中亚型17种,古北型6种,表现出中亚亚界与欧洲–西伯利亚亚界间的过渡性质。爬行动物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson优势度指数随海拔分布呈带有一个中峰的低海拔高原格局,在第2海拔段(500–600 m)达到峰值;均匀度指数总体呈现递增格局,第15海拔段(1,800–1,900 m)达到最大值;丰富度则呈现一种波动的递减格局,峰值在第10海拔段(1,300–1,400 m)。3种环境因子对这种格局的独立解释力较低,但综合作用的解释力较强,其中海拔与年均温这两个因子的综合作用对物种多样性影响程度最大。

洞庭湖区麋鹿再野化初期秋冬季生境选择

深入了解生境特征和生境选择的季节性差异是开展野生动物生境有效管理的前提。2016年3月,原国家林业局和湖南省人民政府启动了麋鹿(Elaphurusdavidianus)再野化项目,来自江苏大丰的16头麋鹿(其中11头安装了GPS卫星跟踪颈圈)在湖南东洞庭湖国家级自然保护区君山后湖放归野外。冬季气候寒冷、食物匮乏,濒危物种个体野放后能否在冬季找到适宜生境是再野化项目能否成功的关键。2016年10月至2017年1月,借助GPS卫星和地面跟踪信息,我们采用样方法对再野化麋鹿种群秋、冬季生境选择进行了研究,测定了生境类型、食物丰富度、草本盖度、乔木盖度、距水源距离、距道路距离、距居民点距离、距隐蔽物距离、隐蔽级等9种生境因子。结果显示:(1)再野化麋鹿种群在秋、冬季对生境类型的选择差异极显著。冬季麋鹿偏好选择水塘、随机利用草本沼泽、避免利用灌草丛;而秋季对生境类型无明显偏好。(2)再野化麋鹿秋冬季对食物丰富度、草本盖度、乔木盖度、距道路距离、距居民点距离、距隐蔽物距离和隐蔽级的选择差异极显著;仅在距水源距离上的差异不显著。(3)秋季再野化麋鹿倾向于选择隐蔽级低、食物丰富度高、草本盖度高、距隐蔽物距离近的生境。其生境利用样方与对照样方在隐蔽级上的差异极显著;在食物丰富度、草本盖度、距隐蔽物距离上的差异显著;在距水源距离、乔木盖度、距道路距离、距居民点距离上的差异不显著。(4)冬季再野化麋鹿倾向于选择距水源近、食物丰富度高、草本盖度高的生境。其生境利用样方与对照样方在食物丰富度、草本盖度、距水源距离上的差异极显著;在距道路距离、距居民点距离、距隐蔽物距离、隐蔽级上的差异不显著。研究结果揭示了洞庭湖区再野化麋鹿种群秋冬季生境选择偏好,为再野化麋鹿种群保护及其生境修复提供了基础数据。

阿尔泰山前荒漠两种沙蜥体况指数特征及其与生态因子的关系

为明确奇台沙蜥(Phrynocephalus grumgrzimailoi)和旱地沙蜥(P.helioscopus)体况指数的年龄性别特征,及其与海拔、年均温、年降水量、平均日较差之间的关系,我们测量了阿勒泰地区84只奇台沙蜥与176只旱地沙蜥的体况数据,用log体重/log头体长表示体况指数。结果显示:(1)旱地沙蜥与奇台沙蜥间体况指数差异显著。(2)旱地沙蜥体况指数雌雄两性差异不显著,奇台沙蜥体况指数雌雄两性差异显著。(3)两种蜥蜴成体与亚成体间体况指数均差异明显。(4)以月份为单位,奇台沙蜥体况指数月份差异明显,旱地沙蜥体况指数月份差异不明显。(5)年均温对奇台沙蜥体况指数有重要影响,而年降水量为补充因子,主要通过与其他生态因子组合发挥作用,海拔对旱地沙蜥体况指数有影响。这些结果表明两种沙蜥对不同环境因子的反应不同,在不同环境的适应度也不同。

Changes in attitudes toward wildlife and wildlife meats in Hunan Province,central China,before and after the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak

Two surveys of opinions about wildlife conservation were carried out in Hunan Province,China,before and after the severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS)epidemic.Hunan is the northern neighbor of Guangdong Province,where the first SARS case was reported.The custom of consuming wild meat was not common in Hunan 30 years ago.However,in recent years,consumption of wildlife such as snakes has spread to northern China.We handed out 1300 questionnaires between 22 February and 10 May 2002,before the SARS epidemic.Survey sites included the provin-cial capital,major cities,towns,and villages in Hunan.Another 1300 questionnaires were distributed between 10 March and 10 May 2004,after the SARS epidemic.The 2004 survey covered the same sites as the 2002 survey.Questionnaire recovery rates for the 2002 and 2004 surveys were 81.2%and 84.6%,respectively.The valid return rate was 73.0%.Frog,snake,hare,and pheasant were the wild meats most frequently eaten by local people.At the time of the first survey,more than 80%of interviewees claimed to have eaten frogs.That number had reduced to 60%by the time of the second survey.Monkey,Chinese pangolin,and bear paw were the wild meats least frequently eaten.Although palm civet was suspected to be the carrier of SARS,it was interesting to note that,after the SARS epidemic,the proportion of people surveyed who ate palm civets had declined only slightly.The results of the surveys indicate a low level of conservation consciousness;however,after the SARS and bird flu epidemics,there were obvious changes in the conservation consciousness of people in Hunan Province.We recommend some measures that could be taken to change the habits of people who consume wildlife.