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Color variations of Nidirana chapaensis from the Yunnan population in China: (A-D) dorsolateral, dorsal (E), and ventral (F) views of Nidirana chapaensis in life from China.
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The China-Vietnam border region is a well-known biodiversity hotspot, harboring a striking diversity of species and endemism. However, the largest part of this region is so far understudied due to restrictions by political boundaries and difficulties in accessibility. Consequently, many species have only been reported from one side of the political...
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With the third most biodiverse amphibian fauna in the world, Ecuador has bolstered this claim with a particularly high rate of species descriptions in recent years. Many of the species being described are already facing anthropogenic threats despite being discovered within privately protected reserves in areas previously not sampled. Herein we desc...
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... Species of the genus Nidirana Dubois, 1992 are often known as music frogs (Lyu et al. 2017(Lyu et al. , 2020(Lyu et al. , 2024Li et al. 2019;Yuan et al. 2019;Wei et al. 2020;Fang et al. 2022;Ma & Wang 2023;Boruah et al. 2023;Frost 2025). This genus was previously considered a synonym of Babina Thompson, 1912, and was resurrected as a distinct genus by Lyu et al. (2017). ...
A new species of the genus Nidirana Dubois, 1992 is described from Cangshan Mountain, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. The new species is morphologically most similar to N. pleuraden (Boulenger, 1904) and N. occidentalis Lyu, Yang & Wang, 2020, but it can be distinct from the latter two species by having a relatively shorter and wider head, relatively larger eyes, relatively smaller tympana, relatively much shorter foot, and a much greater difference in body size between males and females. Phylogenetically, the new species differs from its congeners by a genetic divergence of 2.6-8.6% and 6.1-14.1% in 16S and COI genes, respectively. This study further emphasizes that the diversity of the genus Nidirana is still severely underestimated.
... The new species and new species record described in this study brings the total number of Amolops species from Yunnan to 24. Our study provides more evidence that the amphibian diversity has been largely underestimated along the border regions of southern China (e.g., Yuan et al. 2019;Chen et al. 2020;Wu et al. 2020Wu et al. , 2021Wu et al. , 2023aZhang et al. 2022). It further unveils the taxonomy of some species of the genus Amolops such as A. mengyangensis which have long been controversial . ...
The torrent frogs of the genus Amolops represent a great anuran diversification in southern China and Southeast Asia. Previous studies have shown that, the diversity of this genus still remains underestimated. During herpetological surveys from 2021 to 2022, several Amolops specimens were collected from the international border regions of southwestern Yunnan Province, China. Herein, we utilized molecular phylogenetic and morphological data to identify these specimens. Our findings indicate the presence of a separate and previously unknown lineage in the A. viridimaculatus group, which we formally describe as a new species. Furthermore, the specimen from Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve clustered with A. vitreus from the paratype, supporting the morphological diagnosis. Therefore, we describe a new species and a new species record for China. Our study contributes to the species richness of the genus Amolops as well as the diversity of amphibians in China. Notably, our discovery brings the total number of Amolops species to 85 and the total number of torrent frog species known to occur in China to 53. In addition, our study further confirmed that Yunnan and Indochina Peninsula have similar faunal composition, implying that more studies are needed to achieve a complete understanding of the species diversity and distribution pattern.
... Furthermore, our study further highlights a lack of existing knowledge on amphibian taxonomy and identifies an underestimation of the potential biodiversity along these national border areas. In recent years, many new recorded species have been found in border areas, such as Nidirana chapaensis ( Yuan et al. 2019), Gracixalus quangi (Lorphengsy et al. 2021) and Theloderma pyaukkya (Du et al. 2020), while a number of studies have called for enhanced surveys of species diversity in these border areas , Chen et al. 2018, Wu et al. 2020, Yuan et al. 2019. The findings of our research further support this view. ...
... Furthermore, our study further highlights a lack of existing knowledge on amphibian taxonomy and identifies an underestimation of the potential biodiversity along these national border areas. In recent years, many new recorded species have been found in border areas, such as Nidirana chapaensis ( Yuan et al. 2019), Gracixalus quangi (Lorphengsy et al. 2021) and Theloderma pyaukkya (Du et al. 2020), while a number of studies have called for enhanced surveys of species diversity in these border areas , Chen et al. 2018, Wu et al. 2020, Yuan et al. 2019. The findings of our research further support this view. ...
Thailand is considered a global biodiversity hotspot that is known to harbour a striking diversity of endemic species. However, several research studies have determined that the level of amphibian diversity in the country has been significantly underestimated. The megophryid genus Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 is currently known to include 89 species that are primarily distributed throughout southern China and Southeast Asia; however, only seven species have been found in Thailand.
Based on an integrative approach encompassing genetic and morphological analyses, we have concluded that the population identified from Chiang Rai Province of Thailand is conspecific with Leptobrachella ventripunctata (Fei, Ye, and Li, 1990). Importantly, this is the first confirmation record of this species, based on molecular and morphological evidence in Thailand. The discovery of this species reaffirms that the diversity within the genus has been underestimated with many species yet to be discovered. In addition, the findings of our study further highlight the lack of existing knowledge on amphibian taxonomy and an underestimation of the biodiversity that exists along these national border areas.
... The karstic ha bitats of southwestern China represent the world's largest karst habitat system, and harbor an extraordinary diverse endemic flora and vertebrate fauna, which are in danger to anthropogenic threats (National Bureau Statistics of China, 2011;Luo et al., 2016). Fieldwork in these areas since 2015 has discovered eight amphibians and reptiles as new species or new locality records (Böhme, 2003;Nicodemo and Bain, 2007;Wang et al., 2015;Chen et al., 2018;Ren et al., 2018;Wang et al., 2018;Zhang et al., 2018;Yuan et al., 2019). Although these recent discoveries provide a greater understanding of the reptilian biodiversity in this region, it also indicates that there is likely much biodiversity that has yet to be discovered. ...
Cyrtodactylus geckos are one of the most speciose and diverse groups of extant lizards known, distributed throughout the Asian and Pacific realms. Using molecular phylogenetic methods and supporting morphological data, we describe a new species of Cyrtodactylus in Daweishan National Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, China. Cyrtodactylus hekouensis sp. nov. can be morphologically distinguished from its nearby congeners by the following characters: maximum SVL 92.3 mm and TL 98.5 mm; 11-12 supralabials; 11-12 infralabials; 36-57 scale rows between the fifth supralabials; 10-13 dorsal tubercles rows; 3 postnasals on blunt and smooth front snout; precloacal-femoral pores in a continuous series of 33-39 (females with pitted scales) located under vent/cloaca and thighs in both sexes; precloacal groove absent; 3/3 postcloacal tubercles; subdigital lamellae under the fourth finger 21 or 22, under the fourth toe 20-23; smooth midbody with smooth venter and tuberculate dorsal scale rows, tubercles from head to tail base; dorsal transverse patterns are generally large, bilaterally symmetrical. The results of the phylogenetic analysis recover specimens of this new species as sister to a clade containing C. wayakonei and C. martini. Uncorrected pairwise intraspecific distances were < 1%, and distances between our new species and other Cyrtodactylus species from nearby countries ranged from 14.2% to 26.8%.
... ;Nguyen S. V. et al., 2009;Chuaynkern et al., 2010;Luu et al., 2013;Oliver et al., 2015;Lyu et al., 2017;Yuan et al., 2019]. ...
The Indochinese Peninsula is recognized as one of the key global biodiversity hotspots. The amphibian fauna of Indochina (including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand) is one of the richest in the world. About 60% of the known species were described within the last 20 years. We review the literature and our data to assess all recent discoveries and taxonomic changes and compile the first annotated checklist of the amphibian fauna of Indochina since the middle of the 20th century, including updated faunal lists for Vietnam and Thailand. Amphibian checklists for Laos and Cambodia are published for the first time. For each species we provide the following information: scientific name; recommended common name in English; information on type specimens; type locality; data on its distribution within Indochina and beyond; IUCN conservation status; taxonomic comment and the most important references. We review the distribution of each species across the 23 biogeographic subregions of Indochina, estimate the similarity among the regional faunas and evaluate their species richness and endemism. In total we record 423 amphibian species belonging to three orders, 11 families and 71 genera; 199 species (47%) are endemic to Indochina. Comprising 270 known species, the amphibian fauna of Vietnam is the richest (98 endemics, 36.3%), followed by Thailand with 194 species (29 endemics, 14.9%), Laos with 121 species (13 endemics, 10.7%), and Cambodia with 72 species (6 endemics, 8.3%). A cluster analysis of faunal similarity between the subregions shows two major assemblages, divided by the Isthmus of Kra. Within the northern mainland portion of Indochina three clusters can be distinguished: (1) northeastern and northwestern uplands of Vietnam and northern Laos; (2) Northern, Central, and Southern Annamites, the Bolaven Plateau, and central-south Vietnam lowlands; (3) western Indochinese subregions. We identify the Northeast and Northwest Uplands of Vietnam, the Northern, Central and Southern Annamites, the Cardamom Mountains, the mountains of Northeast Thailand, Northern Tenasserim and southern Peninsular Thailand as nine major centers of diversity and endemism of Indochinese amphibians. The analysis of amphibian distribution patterns across Indochina suggests the presence of 14 chorotypes grouped in five major range types. Our results underline the role of Indochina as a key area for amphibian diversity and conservation. Among 423 species of Indochinese amphibians, 152 species (35.9%) were considered as data deficient (DD) or were not evaluated (NE) according to the IUCN Red List criteria; while 76 species (18.0%) were considered vulnerable (VU), endangered (EN) or critically endangered (CR), 20 species (4.7%) were considered to be near threatened (NT), and 175 species (41.4%) to be of the least concern (LC). Our study thus has implications for further conservation efforts on regional and global levels, as well as for understanding the biogeographic patterns of amphibian richness and endemism in Asia.
... A clear need therefore exists to conduct collaborative herpetological surveys involving both countries to obtain a better understanding of the biodiversity in this region. Similar efforts in the border area between China and Vietnam have previously demonstrated the value of such international surveys Yuan et al. 2019a). ...
The Chinese-Myanmar border area forms part of a long-acknowledged biodiversity hotspot. This region is characterised by dramatic topography and diverse landscapes, which support a high degree of biodiversity and endemism that remains largely understudied. Based on recent survey efforts we here describe a new frog species of the genus Odorrana from this area. Found in Dulongjiang village, Yunnan, China, the new species differs from a morphological perspective from its congeners through the combination of a grass-green dorsum with black posterior spots, absence of dorsolateral folds, a distinct pineal body, presence of supratympanic folds, absence of outer metacarpal, metatarsal and supernumerary tubercles, and a pair of external subgular vocal sacs. From a molecular perspective, pairwise genetic distances of 4.8% to 11.6% for DNA sequences of the mitochondrial gene for 16S ribosomal RNA differentiate the new species from other Odorrana. Our mitochondrial phylogeny suggests that the new species is a deeply divergent genetic lineage clustering with the clade including Odorrana wuchuanensis, and the Odorrana andersonii and Odorrana margaretae groups. The discovery of this new species emphasizes the need for further herpetological studies in the China-Myanmar border region.
... This area forms the border of several countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Our findings highlight the importance of international cooperation to facilitate extensive sampling across political boundaries, in the interest of understanding biodiversity (e.g., Chen et al., 2017Chen et al., , 2018Suwannapoom et al., 2016;Yuan et al., 2019a). In addition, our analyses reduce the range sizes of some species. ...
The genus Amolops (“torrent frogs”) is one of the most species-rich genera in Ranidae, with 59 recognized species. This genus currently includes six species groups diagnosed mainly by morphology. Several recent molecular studies indicated that the classification of species groups within Amolops remains controversial, and key nodes in the phylogeny have been inadequately resolved. In addition, the diversity of Amolops remains poorly understood, especially for those from incompletely sampled regions. Herein, we investigate species-level diversity within the genus Amolops throughout southern China and Southeast Asia, and infer evolutionary relationships among the species using mtDNA data (16S, COI, and ND2). Molecular analyses indicate nine unnamed species, mostly distributed in the Himalayas. We then utilized anchored hybrid enrichment to generate a dataset representing the major mitochondrial lineages to resolve phylogenetic relationships, biogeography, and pattern of species diversification. Our resulting phylogeny strongly supports the monophyly of four previously identified species groups (the A. ricketti, A. daiyunensis, A. hainanensis, and A. monticola groups), but paraphyly for the A. mantzorum and A. marmoratus groups, as previously defined. We erect one new species group, the A. viridimaculatus group, and recognize Dubois (1992) ‘subgenus’ Amo as the A. larutensis species group. Biogeographic analysis suggests that Amolops originated on the Indo-Burma/Thai-Malay Peninsula at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary, and dispersed outward, exemplifying a common pattern observed for the origin of Asian biodiversity. The early divergence within Amolops coincides with the Himalayas uplift and the lateral extrusion of Indochina at the Oligocene/Miocene boundary. Our results show that paleoclimatic and geomorphological events have profoundly influenced the patterns of lineage diversification within Amolops.
To date, 10 species of the genus Microhyla have been recorded in China, of which six were distributed in Yunnan Province. Microhyla hmongorum Hoang, Nguyen, Phan, Pham, Ninh, Wang, Jiang, Ziegler, and Nguyen, 2022 was also speculated to be distributed in Xishuangbana, Yunnan Province, China. However, there is no evidence of documentation of M. hmongorum .
We report the first country record of Microhyla hmongorum , based on specimens collected from Yunnan border region. Morphologically, the specimen was consistent with the original descriptions of M. hmongorum . Phylogenetically, the sequences of the specimens from China clustered with the sequence of type specimens of M. hmongorum from Vietnam, with uncorrected pairwise distances of 0.9% at the 16S gene fragment analysed. Therefore, we report M. hmongorum as a new record species in China.
Nine species of amphibians (Leptobrachella namdongensis, Amolops cremnobatus, Nidirana chapaensis, Odorrana graminea, Odorrana tiannanensis, Chirixalus doriae, Raorchestes parvulus, Rohanixalus vittatus, Paramesotriton deloustali) are reported for the first time from Son La Province, Vietnam. Our findings bring the species number of amphibians known from this province to 79. In addition, we provide morphological data and ecological notes for the aforementioned species.
