Abstract:[Objectives] In June 2025, 5 specimens of the genus Sinocyclocheilus were collected from the outlet of an underground river in Pairu Village, Zuozhou Town, Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Morphological and molecular biological evidence confirmed that the specimens as a new species, named Sinocyclocheilus pairuensis Li, Liang et Li, sp. nov. [Methods] Morphological characteristics of the 5 collected specimens were measured and compared with related species of the genus Sinocyclocheilus. A Bayesian tree was constructed based on mitochondrial Cyt b genes. MEGA12 was used to calculate the genetic distances between the species of the genus Sinocyclocheilus. [Results] The new species can be distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of characteristics (Figs. 1, 2; Tables 1, 2):1) a humpback at the junction of the head and back; 2) large eyes, with a diameter of 17.0% ~ 19.7% of the head length; 3) covered in scales, complete lateral line, with 53 ~ 58 lateral line scales; 4) dorsal fin with 3 unbranched and 7 branched rays, last unbranched ray rigid at its base, with serrations along its posterior edge; 5) pectoral fins relatively long, with 1 unbranched and 14 ~ 15 branched rays, extending backward to reach or exceed the starting point of the pelvic fins; 6) pelvic fins relatively short, with 1 unbranched and 7 ~ 8 branched rays, not extending posteriorly to the anus. The phylogenetic tree showed that the new species was a monophyletic population (Fig. 4). The intraspecific genetic distance of the new species was less than 0.1%, while the interspecific genetic distance ranged from 2.0% to 15.7% (Appendix 1 and Electronic appendix 1). [Conclusion] Morphological features and phylogenetic analysis supported that the new species belonged to the S. cyphotergous species group of the genus Sinocyclocheilus. It is the first recorded instance of the genus Sinocyclocheilus in the Zuojiang River of the Pearl River Basin. This provides new information into the phylogeny and biogeography of this genus.

Abstract:[Objectives] The genus Atlanta Lesueur, 1817 (Mollusca:Gastropoda:Littorinimorpha:Atlantidae) comprises small, holoplanktonic gastropods that are an important component of marine zooplankton communities. While 21 species are recognized globally, only eight have been documented from the China Seas. This study aims to investigate the species diversity of the genus Atlanta in the South China Sea through detailed morphological analysis, with the objective of identifying and describing potential new records for the China Seas, thereby updating the regional biodiversity inventory. [Methods] Zooplankton samples were collected during four research cruises covering the northern, northeastern, western, and southern regions of the South China Sea between 2022 and 2023. A total of 63 samples were obtained via plankton nets with mesh sizes ranging from 160 to 500 μm and were preserved in a 5% formaldehyde solution neutralized with sodium borate to prevent shell dissolution. In the laboratory, a Nikon SMZ18 stereomicroscope was used to sort and identify the specimens. For detailed morphological examination, shells and opercula were cleaned via ultrasonication, dehydrated, dried, and sputter-coated with gold. High-resolution imaging was performed via a Hitachi S-3400N scanning electron microscope (SEM) to observe critical diagnostic features such as fine shell sculpture, protoconch morphology, and opercular structures. Morphometric measurements, including maximum shell diameter and whorl count, were recorded for representative specimens. [Results] A total of 12 Atlanta species were identified in the South China Sea (Table 2; Fig. 2). Among them, four species—A. echinogyra Richter, 1972; A. plana Richter, 1972; A. frontieri Richter, 1993;and A. oligogyra Tesch, 1906—were reported as new records for the China Seas. Detailed morphological descriptions and measurements for these four species are provided (Tables 3 ~ 6; Figs. 3 ~ 6). Key diagnostic features and size ranges are as follows:1) A. echinogyra (max shell diameter:1.507 mm) is distinguished by its reddish-purple spire with complex sculpture and a spiny opercular gyre (Fig. 3, Table 3). 2) A. plana (max shell diameter:3.230 mm) is characterized by a very flat shell and a low spire with subtle spiral ridges (Fig. 4, Table 4). 3) A. frontieri is identified by a distinctive spiral rib running along the suture from the second to the fourth whorl (Fig. 5, Table 5).4) A. oligogyra (max shell diameter:2.323 mm) features a globular spire with shallow sutures (Fig. 6, Table 6). The spatial distribution of these species within the South China Sea is mapped in Fig. 7. It revealed that A. plana and A. oligogyra were relatively common and widespread; A. echinogyra was mainly found in the southern and western regions; A. frontieri was rare and restricted to the western region. [Conclusion] The discovery of these four new records increases the known diversity of the genus Atlanta in the China Seas from eight to twelve species. All species are typical warm-water taxa, and their presence aligns with the tropical nature of the South China Sea. This study provides crucial morphological and distributional data that not only enrich the marine zooplankton biodiversity inventory of China but also establish a foundational basis for future ecological and biogeographical research on this ecologically significant group. All voucher specimens are deposited in the Marine Biodiversity Collection of the South China Sea, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Abstract:[Objectives] This study aims to explore the relationship between the land surface temperature of the historical distribution area of Amur Tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) and the habitat suitability in the Greater and the Lesser Khingan Mountains. In addition, it aims to test the theoretical hypothesis that land surface temperature influences the spatial distribution of herbivores through its impact on the distribution and growth of vegetation, thereby affecting the habitat suitability of Amur Tigers. [Methods] We used the land surface temperature inversion data of the Greater and the Lesser Khingan Mountains in 2022 to systematically study the land surface temperature distribution pattern in historical distribution area of Amur Tigers and explored the internal relationship between land surface temperature distribution and habitat suitability with the pixel-by-pixel analysis method. [Results] The low temperature area in the study area was mainly concentrated in the north and west of the Greater Khingan Mountains and the high-altitude area in the middle of the Lesser Khingan Mountains. Moreover, the low temperature area in the Greater Khingan Mountains had lower temperature and wider distribution than that in the Lesser Khingan Mountains (Figs. 2 and 3). There was a correlation between habitat suitability of Amur Tigers and land surface temperature in the Lesser Khingan Mountains. Specifically, the unsuitable habitats for Amur Tigers were mainly in the area with low average land surface temperature and lower average temperature during the growing season. As the land surface temperature increased, the areas of sub-suitable habitats and suitable habitats increased. The sub-suitable habitats and the suitable habitats of Amur Tigers had a greater correlation with the region with higher land surface temperature, and higher land surface temperature was one of the more suitable living conditions for Amur Tigers. [Conclusion] The results can provide a theoretical basis and basic data for habitat restoration, population restoration, and ecological corridor construction in the historical distribution area of Amur Tigers, and have practical reference value for the population restoration and protection of wild Amur Tigers in the historical distribution area of China.

Abstract:[Objectives] Dietary research is a crucial component of conservation studies for endangered wildlife. Both Chinese Serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii) and Chinese Goral (Naemorhedus griseus) are class II national key protected wild animals in China. The winter season is characterized by harsh environmental conditions and scarce food resources, making the overwintering period a critical survival bottleneck for these two species. To clarify the winter dietary strategies and nutritional adaptation mechanisms of these sympatric species, this study was conducted in Hubei Dalaoling National Nature Reserve from November 2023 to March 2024. The specific research objectives are as follows:(1) To identify the winter food composition and plant category preferences of the two species; (2) To analyze the diversity of their winter diets and the degree of food niche overlap; (3) To explore the correlations of their foraging frequency with the nutrient components (crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, crude ash) and tannin of food plants; (4) To provide targeted scientific support for the conservation and management of the two species by comparing their dietary differences and adaptive strategies. [Methods] On the basis of infrared camera monitoring data collected from 2019 to 2024, 20 sites with high occurrence frequencies of Chinese Serow and 9 sites with high occurrence frequencies of Chinese Goral were selected as survey locations. At each site, a transect approximately 2 km in length was established perpendicular to the contour lines, along which signs of activity of both species were recorded and fresh fecal samples (≤ 3 d old) were collected. For each fecal occurrence area, a 20 m × 20 m plot was centered on the location to collect plant species consumed by the two ungulates. Fecal microhistological analysis (10 × 10 magnification) was conducted to determine winter diet composition, and the frequency of occurrence (F) and relative density (RD) of each plant species in feces were calculated. Diet diversity was assessed based on the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H^′), evenness index (J^′), and niche breadth index (B), while winter diet overlap between the two species was quantified by Pianka’s index (C). Nutritional components and tannin content of plants were determined strictly following national standard methods of the People’s Republic of China. Data analysis was conducted in OriginPro 2024 (Version 10.1.0.178), where one-way ANOVA was carried out to test differences in tannin content among plant species, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison tests. Pearson correlation analyses and visualization were performed in R version 4.3.2 to examine relationships between winter feeding frequency and plant nutritional components. [Results] (1) Both species fed on 13 plant species belonging to 12 families in winter. The main winter food sources of Chinese Serow were Carex taliensis (17.05%), Elaeagnus lanceolata (12.54%), Dryopteris atrata (11.35%), and Pachysandra terminalis (10.37%); while the main winter food sources of Chinese Goral were C. taliensis (18.55%), Viburnum erosum (12.35%), Tripterospermum discoideum (9.31%), and P. terminalis (9.04%) (Table 2). (2) The categories of food plants for Chinese Serow in winter were in the order of shrubs (39.35%), herbs (22.09%), ferns (17.37%), lianas (14.95%), and mosses (6.26%); for Chinese Goral, the order was herbs (34.13%), shrubs (30.88%), lianas (14.81%), ferns (13.66%), and mosses (6.52%) (Fig. 4). (3) The winter food diversity of Chinese Serow and Chinese Goral was close (Shannon-Wiener index H′:2.23 vs. 2.25; Pielou evenness index J′:0.86 vs. 0.87; Simpson index B:8.3 vs. 8.42), and their food niche overlap was high (Schoener’s niche overlap index C = 0.88), indicating that intense interspecific competition may exist between the two species (Table 3). (4) The winter foraging frequency of Chinese Serow showed positive correlations with the content of crude protein, crude fat, and crude fiber in food (correlation coefficients R:0.42, 0.35, and 0.33 respectively, P < 0.05), but no significant correlation with crude ash or tannin content (P > 0.05). For Chinese Goral, its winter foraging frequency was positively correlated with crude protein, crude fat, and crude ash content in food (R:0.61, 0.59, and 0.45 respectively, P < 0.05), while no significant correlation was found with crude fiber or tannin content (P > 0.05) (Figs. 5 ~ 7). [Conclusion] The food plant species of Chinese Serow and Chinese Goral show a high overlap in winter. Regarding their foraging strategies, both species prioritize food accessibility over palatability in winter and give priority to ensuring a stable intake of protein and energy. The difference between the two species lies mainly in that Chinese Serow focuses more on the satiety provided by food, while Chinese Goral places a greater emphasis on the nutritional refinement of food.

Abstract:[Objectives] According to the IOC World Bird List v15.1 and the AChecklist of Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China (4th ed), the subspecies Buteo buteo japonicus of the widely distributed Common Buzzard (B. buteo) has been elevated to full species, B. japonicus. In China, B. buteo and B. japonicus are therefore recognized as two species. The Eastern Buzzard (B. japonicus) is broadly distributed in Northeast Asia, including Northeast China, the Russian Far East, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula. Although north–south migration has been reported, particularly in the Japanese Archipelago, a systematic analysis of its migration routes in eastern China and Northeast Asia is still lacking. [Methods] This study conducted satellite tracking on 22 individuals of the Eastern Buzzard wintering in eastern China, recording a total of 16 complete spring and autumn migration routes of 11 ind over a span of nearly four years. In R 4.3.2, the zoo and changepoint packages were used to analyze the migration data and determine threshold dates for state changes and the start and end of migration. Trajectories were then visualized in ArcGIS 10.8, and the cumulative migration distance between breeding and wintering grounds was calculated. In addition, point-wise nearest-neighbor (kNN) analysis was performed to quantify cross-year spatial overlap of migration routes. On the basis of these analyses and previous studies, the overall migration routes of Eastern Buzzard in Northeast Asia were summarized. [Results] The individuals wintering in eastern China migrated northward in spring to breed in Northeast China and the Russian Far East. During migration, individuals traveled northward along the eastern flank of the Taihang Mountains and west of Bohai Bay, traversing the North China Plain. Subsequently, these individuals diverged into three major migratory directions:some crossed the Yanshan Mountains into Northeast China; others headed directly towards the Greater Khingan Range and onward to the Russian Far East; while a third group first moved toward the Northeast China Plain and then crossed the Lesser Khingan Range to reach their breeding grounds in Russia (Fig. 1). Southward migration routes in autumn were generally symmetrical to those observed in spring, while about 25% of individuals adopted a route along the Changbai Mountains that had not been used by any individuals during spring migration, directly crossing the Bohai Sea to reach their wintering sites in eastern China (Fig. 2). Analysis of repeated spring and autumn migration trajectories of the same individuals across different years indicated that the migration routes of Eastern Buzzard individuals exhibited moderate to high spatial consistency, with deviations mainly occurring near topographic or climatic barriers such as the Bohai Sea, Yanshan Mountains, and Greater Khingan Range (Table 3). Three principal migration routes in Northeast Asia were identified as the Russia–Northeast China–East/Southeast China route, the Russia–Northeast China–Korean Peninsula–Tsushima Strait route, and the Sakhalin–Japanese Archipelago route (Fig. 3). [Conclusion] The satellite tracking reveals the important migration routes of the Eastern Buzzard in eastern China and Northeast Asia, providing essential baseline data to support species conservation.

Abstract:[Objectives] Poyang Lake is an extremely important wintering ground for waterbirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. With the degradation of the Poyang Lake wetland ecosystem, an increasing number of waterbirds have shifted their foraging habitats from natural wetlands to agricultural fields, leading to an intensified human-bird conflict. To assess the current situation of human-bird conflicts around Poyang Lake, we conducted questionnaire surveys at villages around Poyang Lake. [Methods] Questionnaire surveys were conducted in October 2023 and December 2024 in Nanchang City, Jiujiang City, and Shangrao City around Poyang Lake, focusing on farmers’ crop damage situations, preventive measures, and their attitudes toward bird conservation and ecological compensation during the autumn and winter of 2022 and 2024. A total of 219 valid questionnaires were collected, including 128 from 2023 and 91 from 2024. [Results] The survey results indicated that geese (90.30%), ducks (86.78%), and cranes (70.69%) were the main waterbirds causing crop damage. Rice (91.93%) was the most damaged crop, followed by rapeseed (45.11%). There were significant interannual variations in crop damage. There were more waterbirds in unharvested agricultural fields (Fig. 1), larger area of crop damaged (Fig. 2), greater financial losses (Fig. 2), and higher frequency of driving away waterbirds (Fig. 3) in 2022 than in 2024. Regarding farmers’ attitudes toward ecological compensation and bird conservation, 77.78% of farmers reported that the ecological compensation amount accounted for less than 10% of their actual losses, and 82.03% were dissatisfied with the compensation amount. Although 80.66% of farmers perceived that waterbirds were not beneficial to agricultural production, 60.95% of farmers were still willing to protect birds. [Conclusion] The extreme severe drought in Poyang Lake in 2022 may intensify waterbird use of agricultural fields, thereby increasing the risk of human-bird conflicts. To alleviate the human-bird conflicts around Poyang Lake, we recommend enhancing the restoration of natural wetlands around Poyang Lake, rationally managing the scale of artificial food provision, increasing ecological compensation standards, optimizing compensation distribution methods, and promoting commercial insurance for wildlife accidents. With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in the future, it is expected that the risk of human-bird conflicts around Poyang Lake would increase, making the effective mitigation strategies a critical contemporary challenge.

Abstract:[Objectives] Birds breeding in agricultural landscapes face multiple pressures, including natural predation and anthropogenic disturbance. Investigating the breeding biology of these species is critical for developing effective conservation and management strategies for both farmland birds and their habitats. [Methods] The breeding biology of Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata), Brown-breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous), and Black-breasted Thrush (Turdus dissimilis) was studied in the agricultural landscapes of Eryuan County during 2018, 2019, and 2021 to 2023. We described the nesting habitats, nest characteristics, and egg parameters of these three bird species, and evaluated their reproductive success. [Results] (1) For the Plain Prinia, the nest-building period spanned from early March to late June. Its cup-shaped nests (Fig. 1a) contained pale blue eggs speckled with brown or reddish-brown spots (Fig. 2a); the average clutch size was 4.7 ± 0.6 eggs (n = 19), and the reproductive success was 18.6% (n = 43). (2) Brown-breasted Bulbul exhibited a nesting-building period from late April to late June, constructing upward-opening cup nests (Fig. 1b) with grayish-white or pale red eggs speckled with chestnut and reddish-brown spots (Fig. 2b); its mean clutch size was 3.2 ± 0.6 eggs (n = 17), and the reproductive success was 36.7% (n = 30). (3) Black-breasted Thrush built upward-opening cup nests (Fig. 1c) containing pale green eggs with dark brown spots (Fig. 2c), showing an average clutch size of 3.2 ± 0.4 eggs (n = 6) and a reproductive success of 50% (n = 6). (4) Anthropogenic disturbance and nest predation were identified as the primary causes of breeding failure for Plain Prinia and Brown-breasted Bulbul, respectively. [Conclusion] This study expands the baseline knowledge regarding the breeding biology of passerine birds within the agricultural landscapes of the monsoon zone on the Dali Plateau, Yunnan Province. Furthermore, our findings provide critical scientific evidence and fundamental data necessary for cultivating and implementing bird biodiversity conservation and management strategies in agricultural regions.

Abstract:[Objectives] The Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) is listed as a National Class I Key Protected Species in China and evaluated as Vulnerable (VU) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has maintained a small wild population in China due to the deterioration of its natural habitats. As an important migratory stopover site and the second-largest wintering ground for this species in China, the Yellow River Delta has witnessed a continuous increase in its wintering population size in recent years. Understanding the genetic characteristics and diversity of this population is crucial for implementing effective conservation strategies. [Methods] We employed a non-invasive sampling method to collect 264 fecal samples of Red-crowned Cranes from the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve from December 2021 to February 2022 (Fig. 1), and extracted DNA from 127 samples. Individual identification and genetic diversity assessment were conducted based on seven microsatellite loci and the mitochondrial Cyt b gene. CERVUS 3.0 was utilized for individual identification and calculation of genetic diversity parameters, including the effective number of alleles (N_e), observed heterozygosity (H_O), expected heterozygosity (H_E), polymorphism information content (PIC), and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). GenAlEx V6.51b2 was used to quantify private alleles, inbreeding coefficient (F_IS), probability of identity (PID), and probability of identity among siblings (PIDsib). The population genetic structure was analyzed via Structure 2.3.4, and the genetic differentiation index (F_ST) and gene flow (N_m) between populations were calculated. Mitochondrial genetic diversity analysis was performed with DNASP 5.0 to calculate haplotype diversity (H_d) and nucleotide diversity (P_i). A median-joining haplotype network was constructed by POPART 1.7. [Results] Individual identification confirmed that 127 samples originated from 115 distinct individuals (Fig. 2). A total of 60 microsatellite alleles were detected, with N_e ranging from 1.640 to 6.414. The population exhibited low genetic diversity, with H_O, PIC, and H_E values of 0.617, 0.578, and 0.628, respectively. Its expected heterozygosity was significantly lower than that of the Zhalong population (P = 0.002), but not significantly different from those of the Yancheng and Hokkaido wintering populations (P > 0.05; Tables 2 and 4). The population showed a high inbreeding coefficient (F_IS = 0.128). Cyt b gene sequences were successfully amplified from 53 samples, revealing 13 variable sites and 12 distinct haplotypes. Haplotype diversity (H_d = 0.756) and nucleotide diversity (P_i = 0.001 92) indicated low genetic diversity (P_i < 0.005). Microsatellite-based population structure analysis divided the population into four subpopulations, while the genetic differentiation was minimal (F_ST 0.020 ~ 0.056, N_m 4.198 ~ 12.329; Figs. 3 and 4, Table 3). The haplotype network constructed from Cyt b sequences showed no significant intraspecific genetic differentiation (Fig. 5). [Conclusion] These findings suggest that the wintering population in the Yellow River Delta exhibits low genetic diversity and a relatively homogeneous genetic structure. This study pioneers the use of fecal DNA for individual identification and genetic analysis in wild Red-crowned Cranes, providing a methodological application for genetic diversity assessments for wild Red-crowned Crane populations and other endangered species.

Abstract:This survey was conducted in Taishun County, Wencheng County, and Cangnan County of Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province in 2024, aiming to assess amphibian species diversity in the region.During this survey, five amphibian specimens were collected from Taishun County, one from Wencheng County, and one from Cangnan County. Morphological characteristics of the specimens were measured via a vernier caliper, including snout-vent length, head length, head width, snout length, internasal space, interorbital space, width of upper eyelid, diameter of eye, diameter of tympanum, length of lower arm and hand, diameter of lower arm, hindlimb length or leg length, tibia length, tibia width, length of foot and tarsus, and foot length. Mitochondrial COI genes of the specimens were sequenced, and all the new sequences in this study have been uploaded to the GenBank database. To conduct phylogenetic and distance-based analyses, we retrieved COI sequences from GenBank for three species of Pelophylax, four of Rana, ten of Boulenophrys, and two of Bufo gargarizans (Appendix 1). A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the COI alignment, and a p-distance analysis was performed. Morphological characteristic comparisons revealed that these specimens shared similarities with Pelophylax fukienensis, Rana longicrus, and Boulenophrys baishanzuensis, respectively(Appendix 2, Fig. 1). The constructed neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree (Fig. 2) showed that the seven specimens were clustered with the aforementioned three frog species. The p-distance analysis revealed genetic divergences of 0.024 between the Pelophylax specimen and P. fukienensis, 0.008 ~ 0.010 between the Rana specimen and R. longicrus, and 0.016 ~ 0.018 between the Boulenophrys specimen and B. baishanzuensis. Therefore, considering both morphological and phylogenetic evidence, the collected specimens were identified as P. fukienensis, R. longicrus, and B. baishanzuensis. Notably, P. fukienensis represents a new provincial amphibian record for Zhejiang, while R. longicrus and B. baishanzuensis are new amphibian records for Wenzhou City. This discovery enhances our understanding of the geographical distribution of these three frog species and enriches the amphibian biodiversity in Zhejiang Province and Wenzhou City.

Abstract:Hemiphyllodactylus dupanglingensis was previously known only from Hunan, China. On October 28, 2024, three specimens (No. GXNU2024110801 ~ GXNU2024110803), exhibiting morphological features similar to those of H. dupanglingensis, were collected from Daguishan National Forest Park, Hezhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. For the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene, the sequencing peak maps of three sequences were evaluated and manually corrected in this study, and a total of other 23 sequences from 16 species of Hemiphyllodactylus were retrieved from GenBank (Table 1). Bayesian inference (BI) analysis was performed via PhyloSuite. The phylogenetic analysis based on ND2 gene revealed that the specimens and H. dupanglingensis specimens clustered together, with uncorrected pairwise distances (p-distance) of 0.017 (Table 3), which is less than the p-distances between species of the genus Hemiphyllodactylus (0.048 ~ 0.305). Considering both morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analysis, it was determined that the two specimens collected in Hezhou were H. dupanglingensis, which was a new record species for amphibian distribution in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Abstract:Supported by the National Investigation of Technological Basic Resources Program, we collected seven Myotis specimens (6 males and 1 female) by using mist nets in the Mentougou District of Beijing, as well as in the cities (Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, Chengde, Pingquan, and Zhangjiakou) of Hebei Province during 2023 and 2024. These specimens may represent new distribution records in these regions. We documented their echolocation calls, conducted external morphological and cranial measurements, and performed the phylogenetic analysis based on Cyt b sequences from 20 Myotis species, including M. aurascens (Table 1). The specimens exhibited head-body lengths ranging from 40.6 to 44.9 mm, forearm lengths from 32.6 to 35.0 mm, and body weights from 3.5 to 4.4 g (Table 2). Morphological characteristics included dorsal hairs with buff-colored tips and dark brown bases, ventral hairs with grayish-white tips and brownish-gray bases, slightly rounded pinnae with narrow elongated tragi, long vibrissae, wing membranes attached at the bases of the toes, uropatagia originating from the ankles, and tail tips extending slightly beyond the uropatagium (Fig. 1a). Craniometric analysis identified the maximum skull lengths ranging from 13.7 to 14.2 mm (Table 3), characterized by elongated rostra, a gradual elevation from the posterior rostrum to the frontal region, and a dental formula of 2.1.3.3/3.1.3.3, totaling 38 teeth (Fig. 1b ~ d). The echolocation calls of this species demonstrated a frequency-modulated (FM) pattern with two harmonics, with the highest energy concentrated in the first harmonic (Fig. 2). The peak frequency was measured at 55.1 ± 5.2 kHz (n = 60) for samples from Beijing and 56.8 ± 8.2 kHz (n = 150) for samples from Hebei. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial Cyt b sequences (1 120 bp) revealed that all specimens in this study clustered within the clade of M. aurascens (Fig. 3), exhibiting genetic divergences ranging from 0.002 to 0.014 (Appendix 1), while showing significant divergence from other species of Myotis, with genetic divergence exceeding 0.13 (Appendix 1). An integrated assessment of external morphology, craniodental characteristics, acoustic data, and molecular evidence confirms that the specimens in this study are M. aurascens, representing a novel distribution record for this species in both Beijing and Hebei.

Abstract:This study aimed to investigate the diversity and distribution of loaches of the genus Cobitis in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Focusing on specimens tentatively identified as Cobitis choii collected during field surveys, we sought to confirm their taxonomic status through integrated morphological and molecular evidence, determine whether they represent a new regional record, and analyze their distribution characteristics and resource status in the region. In July 2024, 16 Cobitis specimens were collected from three rivers—Huihe River (3 specimens), Ursun River (4 specimens), and Bayan Wula Bridge River (9 specimens)—in Hulun Buir City, Inner Mongolia, China. The species were identified through a combination of morphological examination (15 morphometric characteristics) and molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial COI gene. Morphological measurements followed standards from The Loaches of China. Molecular methods included genomic DNA extraction, PCR amplification and sequencing of the COI gene, sequence alignment by BLAST, and construction of a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on genetic distances to clarify phylogenetic relationships.Morphologically, all specimens exhibited diagnostic characteristics of C. choii, including a faint longitudinal band on the body side, an L5 band composed of 14 ~ 19 distinct spots, and a lamina circularis on the second branched pectoral-fin ray in males (Fig. 1). Key morphological ratios were consistent with previously reported data, though some ratios (e.g., head length/standard length, body depth/standard length) showed wider variation ranges, possibly due to the predominance of juvenile individuals or regional population differentiation (Table 2). Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that all obtained COI sequences clustered within a clade of known C. choii sequences, with very low intragroup genetic distances (0.000 0 ~ 0.002 5), strongly supporting their conspecificity (Fig. 2; see detailed genetic distance matrix in Appendix 1). On the basis of congruent morphological and molecular evidence, this study provides the first confirmed record of C. choii in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which represents a new species record for the area. Stable populations are found across multiple rivers in Hulun Buir City. We recommend enhanced habitat protection and systematic monitoring for this species to support future research and conservation of regional fish biodiversity.

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