Abstract:

Aims: The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is the largest and highest plateau in the world, expanding across China, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar, with majority of its area in China. Its complex terrain and diverse climate conditions have nurtured a rich and unique biota, making it one of the global hotspots for biodiversity research and conservation. This study focuses on the herpetofauna diversity from the Chinese part of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, aiming to compile an annotated checklist of amphibians and reptiles of the region and analyze their distribution patterns for future taxonomic and conservation works. 

Methods: Following Zhang et al. (2021a), we clarified the scope of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau within China, covering 220 county-level administrative units in six provinces/ autonomous regions. Based on this preset geographic area, we extracted data on herpetofauna diversity and their distribution from comprehensive literature review and supplemented their distribution data with our new field records. With the checklist, we further incorporated additional information including their endemic status, conservation status, and national protection status. Finally, we analyzed the county-level spatial distribution patterns of amphibians and reptiles separately, focusing on the total species richness, endemic species, threatened species (CR, EN, VU), assessment-pending species (DD, NE), and species newly discovered. 

Results: As of December 31, 2024, the amphibian fauna of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau comprised of 151 species in 39 genera, 12 families, and two orders (Caudata: 10 species in three genera and three families; Anura: 141 species in 36 genera and nine families), representing 22.0% of China's total amphibian species. On the other hand, the reptile fauna of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau includes 206 species in 62 genera, 19 families, and two orders (Testudines: one species in one genus and one family; Squamata: 96 species in 24 genera and 6 families for Lacertilia, 109 species in 37 genera and 12 families for Serpentes), representing 30.3% of China's total reptile species. Among them, 64 species of amphibian and 72 species of reptile species are endemic to the region. Notably, over a quarter of the herpetofauna species of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau were either described or newly recorded within the past decade (2015-2024). According to China’s Red List of Biodiversity, 22.5% and 11.7% of the amphibians and reptiles from the region, respectively, are classified as threatened, while 42.4% and 43.7% of them respectively lack effective conservation assessments. Analysis of county-level distribution patterns reveals a clear spatial heterogeneity in herpetofauna composition across the region. Three distinct biodiversity hotspots emerge, including southeastern Xizang, northwestern Yunnan, and western Sichuan, and Medog County stands out with the highest species richness, endemism and number of new species/new records discovered among all county-level administrative regions. 

Conclusion: Characterized by both a rich species diversity and a high level of endemism, the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau possesses exceptional conservation value. Southeastern Xizang, western Sichuan, and northwestern Yunnan were identified as priority regions for continuous field surveys and taxonomic studies in the future. The lack of both conservation assessments and basic natural history data that support conservation assessments would prevent effective conservation of the herpetofauna from Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, and such data gaps should be filled urgently. Future conservation strategies must address escalating threats including habitat loss, overexploitation, and climate-driven environmental changes.

Key words: checklist, Xizang, Qinghai, Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu, biodiversity, conservation