A HERPETOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TSINLING AND TA-PA SHAN REGION

From May to August, 1961, a herpetological survey was carried out to Hua-ngo Shan in Wanyuan Hsien and Kuang-wu Shan in Nankiang Hsien of the Ta-pa Shan range of Szechwan. From April to July, 1962, another survey was carried out to the Tsinling Mountains in Yang Hsien and Chouchih Hsien region of southern Shensi. Twenty three species of amphibians and twenty one species of reptiles were collected. Five new species of amphibians and a new scincoid lizard were discovered.The herpetological fauna of the Tsinling Mountains and the Ta-pa Shan range clearly indicates that the Tsinling Mountains is a "barrier" especially to Oriental forms. There are only eight species of amphibia on the northern slope of the Tsinling Mountains in Chouchih Hsien region, but no common Oriental forms, such as Rana limnocharis, Rhaco-phorus or Microhyla. On the southern slope of the Tsinling Mountains and the Ta-pa Shan range, twenty three species of amphibians were collected. As regards reptiles, the North China forms, such as Gekko swmhoms, Eremias argus and Coluber spinalis are found only near the city of Chouchih Hsien.The Tsinling Mountains may be considered as a border zone between Palaearctic and Oriental realms in China. This border zone including the Ta-pa Shan range has its own characteristic amphibian fauna. At present, it is known that Rana quadranus is the most widely distributed and abundant frog along this eastwcst mountain chain. Ranodon tsinpaensis, Hyla tsinlingensis and Microhyla mixtura are the other dominant species found in this region.The diagnoses of six new species are given below. All the type specimens are kept in the Southwest Institute of Biology, Academia Sinica, Chengtu.Ranodon tsinpaensis Liu et Hu, sp. nov.TYPE: No. 623293, adult male; type locality: Hou-tseng-tze, Chouchih Hsien, Shensi, alt. 1,830m. ; June 23, 1962; collected by Djao Er-mie and Wu Kuan-fu.DIAGNOSIS: This new species is distinguished from Ranodon wushanensis by the absence of labial fold and cornified palms and soles and from R. sibiricus by its much smaller size and much fewer eggs in each egg-case. The body from snout to vent measuring 66 mm in length, and the egg-case containing 6-11 eggs in this new Ranodon, whereas in R. sibiricus the body attains 101 mm in length, and there are 25 eggs in each egg-case. Megophrys nankiangensis Liu et Hu, sp. nov.TYPE: No. 610588, adult female; type locality: Kuang-wu Shan, Nankiang Hsien, Szcchwan, alt. 1,750m; July 25, 1961; collected by Wu Kuan-fu and Ych Chang-yuan.DIAGNOSIS: This new Megophrys is closely related to M. omeimontis but differs from the latter by the hidden tympanum and the absence of vomerine ridge and tecth.Hyla tsinlingensis Liu et Hu, sp. nov.TYPE: No. 623149, adult male; type locality: Hou-tscng-tzc, Chouchih Hsien, Shensi, alt. 1,341 m; June 3, 1962; collected by Wu Kuan-fu and Djao Er-mie.DIAGNOSIS: This new Hyla is similar to H. annectans in having a granular fold in the temporal region, but differs from the latter by its color pattern. It has fine black lines on the snout, upper jaw and tympanic region, especially a loop in the jaw region.Rana kuangwuensis Liu et Hu, sp. nov.TYPE: No. 610551, adult female; type locality: Kuang-wu Shan, Nankiang Hsien, Szcchwan, alt. 1,650m; July 23, 1961; collected by Wu Kuan-fu and Liu Te-yang.DIAGNOSIS: This new Rana is similar to R, margaratae in the male having no vocal sac, but distinguished from the latter by its smaller size, by coarsely marbled webs, belly and ventral part of the thigh, and by the larger tympanum and interorbital space.Microhyla mixtura Liu et Hu, sp. nov.TYPE: No. 610174, adult male; type locality: Hua-ngo Shan, Wanyuan Hsien, Szcchwan, alt. 1,280 m; May 24, 1961; collected by Yeh Chang-yuan and Liu Te-yang.DIAGNOSIS: This new Microhyla is distinguished from other forms as follows: 1. the absence of discs on fingers distinguishing it from M. butleri and M. heymonsi; 2. digital discs on toes with dorsal longitudinal furrows distinguishing it from M. pulchra and M. ornata; 3. the feebly developed webs distinguishing it from M.