Herpetofauna diversity of the Gaoligong Mountain in China: Checklist, zoogeography, and conservation

Based on literature review and long-term field surveys, we compile the first comprehensive checklist of the herpetofauna of the Gaoligong Mountain (GLGM). Based on newly collected vouchers and confirmed photos, we added six new national records of reptiles to China, one new provincial record of reptile to Yunnan Province, and five new records of amphibian and reptiles to the GLGM. Additionally, based on published literature and our new data, we removed 24 and 18 records of recognized reptile and amphibian species, respectively, from the GLGM due to misidentification or outdated taxonomy. In total, 107 species of reptiles and 84 species of amphibians have been recorded from the GLGM. Zoogeographically, the GLGM was divided into four herpetofauna subregions, namely (1) the Northern Nu Valley, (2) the Dulong Valley, (3) the Main Gaoligong Range, and (4) the Tropical Hills of Gaoligong. The Tropical Hills of Gaoligong harbors the highest number of threatened and nationally protected species, but the Northern Nu Valley and Dulong Valley had the highest percentage of threatened species. About 30% of the herpetofauna in the GLGM lack conservation assessments, and roadkill and bushmeat consumption are the two main threats to the herpetofauna in the GLGM. Lastly, we discuss the existing issues regarding herpetological diversity studies in the GLGM and suggest directions for future research.