China
Checklist of Endemic Amphibian Species
This list of amphibian species found exclusively in China is based on the taxonomy used in Frost (2004). For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.
Frost, D.R. (2004) Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. 3.0 (22 August 2004). American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA.
The current version of this electronic database is accessible here
* = Mainland plus Taiwan ** = Taiwan only x = extinct
Bombina fortinuptialis (Anura - Bombinatoridae) Large-spined Bell Toad
Bombina lichuanensis (Anura - Bombinatoridae) Lichuan Bell Toad
Bombina maxima (Anura - Bombinatoridae) Large-webbed Bell Toad
Bufo ailaoanus (Anura - Bufonidae) Ailao Toad
Bufo aspinius (Anura - Bufonidae)
Bufo bankorensis ** (Anura - Bufonidae) Central Formosan Toad
Bufo cyphosus (Anura - Bufonidae) Projective-occiputed Toad
Bufo kabischi (Anura - Bufonidae)
Bufo minshanicus (Anura - Bufonidae) Minshan Toad
Bufo tibetanus (Anura - Bufonidae) Tibetan Toad
Bufo tuberculatus (Anura - Bufonidae) Round-warted Toad
Bufo wolongensis (Anura - Bufonidae)
Parapelophryne scalpta (Anura - Bufonidae) Hainan Little Toad
Hyla immaculata (Anura - Hylidae) Spotless Treefrog
Hyla sanchiangensis (Anura - Hylidae) San Chiang Treefrog
Hyla tsinlingensis (Anura - Hylidae) Tsinling Treefrog
Hyla zhaopingensis (Anura - Hylidae) Zhaoping Treefrog
Atympanophrys gigantica (Anura - Megophryidae) Giant Piebald Horned Frog
Atympanophrys shapingensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Shaping Horned Frog
Brachytarsophrys chuannanensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Chuanan Short-legged Toad
Brachytarsophrys platyparietus (Anura - Megophryidae) Yunnan Spadefoot Toad
Leptobrachium hainanense (Anura - Megophryidae) Hainan Pseudomoustache Toad
Leptolalax alpinus (Anura - Megophryidae) Alpine Metacarpal-tubercled Toad
Leptolalax liui (Anura - Megophryidae) Fujian Metacarpal-tubercled Toad
Leptolalax ventripunctatus (Anura - Megophryidae) Speckle-bellied Metacarpal-tubercled Toad
Megophrys mangshanensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Mangshan Horned Frog
Oreolalax chuanbeiensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Chuanbei Toothed Toad
Oreolalax granulosus (Anura - Megophryidae) Spiny Warty Toothed Toad
Oreolalax jingdongensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Jingdong Toothed Toad
Oreolalax lianbeiensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Liangbei Toothed Toad
Oreolalax major (Anura - Megophryidae) Large Toothed Toad
Oreolalax multipunctatus (Anura - Megophryidae) Spotted Toothed Toad
Oreolalax nanjiangensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Nanjiang Toothed Toad
Oreolalax omeimontis (Anura - Megophryidae) Omei Toothed Toad
Oreolalax pingii (Anura - Megophryidae) Ping's Toothed Toad
Oreolalax popei (Anura - Megophryidae) Baoxing Toothed Toad
Oreolalax puxiongensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Puxiong Toothed Toad
Oreolalax rhodostigmatus (Anura - Megophryidae) Red-spotted Toothed Toad
Oreolalax rugosus (Anura - Megophryidae) Warty Toothed Toad
Oreolalax schmidti (Anura - Megophryidae) Webless Toothed Toad
Oreolalax weigoldi (Anura - Megophryidae) Weigold's Toothed Toad
Oreolalax xiangchengensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Xiangcheng Toothed Toad
Scutiger brevipes (Anura - Megophryidae) Taining Cat-eyed Toad
Scutiger chintingensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Chinting Alpine Toad
Scutiger glandulatus (Anura - Megophryidae) Chest Gland Cat-eyed Toad
Scutiger gongshanensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Gongshan Cat-eyed Toad
Scutiger jiulongensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Jiulong Cat-eyed Toad
Scutiger liupanensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Liupan Alpine Toad
Scutiger maculatus (Anura - Megophryidae) Piebald Alpine Toad
Scutiger mammatus (Anura - Megophryidae) Chest Cat-eyed Toad
Scutiger muliensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Muli Cat-eyed Toad
Scutiger ningshanensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Ningshan Alpine Toad
Scutiger pingwuensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Pingwu Alpine Toad
Scutiger tuberculatus (Anura - Megophryidae) Round-tubercled Cat-eyed Toad
Vibrissaphora boringii (Anura - Megophryidae) Emei Moustache Toad
Vibrissaphora leishanensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Leishan Moustache Toad
Vibrissaphora liui (Anura - Megophryidae) Chong'an Moustache Toad
Xenophrys caudoprocta (Anura - Megophryidae) Convex-tailed Horned Frog
Xenophrys daweimontis (Anura - Megophryidae) Mount Dawei Horned Toad
Xenophrys medogensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Medog Horned Frog
Xenophrys nankiangensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Nankiang Horned Frog
Xenophrys omeimontis (Anura - Megophryidae) Omei Horned Frog
Xenophrys shuichengensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Shuicheng Horned Toad
Xenophrys spinata (Anura - Megophryidae) Spiny-fingered Horned Frog
Xenophrys wawuensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Wawu Horned Toad
Xenophrys wushanensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Wushan Horned Frog
Xenophrys zhangi (Anura - Megophryidae) Zhang's Horned Frog
Kalophrynus menglienicus (Anura - Microhylidae) Menglien Narrow-mouthed Frog
Kaloula rugifera (Anura - Microhylidae) Sichuan Digging Frog
Kaloula verrucosa (Anura - Microhylidae) Verrucous Digging Frog
Micryletta steinegeri ** (Anura - Microhylidae) Stejneger's Narrow-mouthed Toad
Microhyla mixtura (Anura - Microhylidae) Mixtured Pygmy FrogAmolops daiyunensis (Anura - Ranidae) Daiyun Torrent Frog
Amolops granulosus (Anura - Ranidae) Granular Torrent Frog
Amolops hainanensis (Anura - Ranidae) Hainan Torrent Frog
Amolops hongkongensis (Anura - Ranidae) Hong Kong Cascade Frog
Amolops jinjiangensis (Anura - Ranidae) Jinjiang Torrent Frog
Amolops kangtingensis (Anura - Ranidae) Kangting Torrent Frog
Amolops liangshanensis (Anura - Ranidae) Liangshan Torrent Frog
Amolops lifanensis (Anura - Ranidae) Lifan Torrent Frog
Amolops loloensis (Anura - Ranidae) Rufous-spotted Torrent Frog
Amolops mantzorum (Anura - Ranidae) Sichuan Torrent Frog
Amolops taiwanianus ** (Anura - Ranidae)
Amolops tormotus (Anura - Ranidae) Concave-eared Torrent Frog
Amolops torrentis (Anura - Ranidae) Little Torrent Frog
Amolops tuberodepressus (Anura - Ranidae) Wuliang Torrent Frog
Amolops wuyiensis (Anura - Ranidae) Wuyi Torrent Frog
Chaparana quadranus (Anura - Ranidae) Swelled Vent Frog
Chaparana unculuanus (Anura - Ranidae) Yunnan Asian Frog
Fejervarya multistriata (Anura - Ranidae) Lantau Wart Frog
Ingerana alpina (Anura - Ranidae) Dayandong Eastern Frog
Ingerana liui (Anura - Ranidae) Liu's Papillae-tongued Frog
Ingerana medogensis (Anura - Ranidae) Medog Eastern Frog
Ingerana reticulata (Anura - Ranidae) Reticulated Papillae-tongued Frog
Ingerana xizangensis (Anura - Ranidae) Xizang Papillae-tongued Frog
Limnonectes fragilis (Anura - Ranidae) Fragile Large-headed Frog
Limnonectes fujianensis * (Anura - Ranidae) Fujian Large-headed Frog
Nanorana ventripunctata (Anura - Ranidae) Spot-bellied Plateau Frog
Paa chayuensis (Anura - Ranidae) Chayu Spiny Frog
Paa conaensis (Anura - Ranidae) Cona Spiny Frog
Paa exilispinosa (Anura - Ranidae) Little Spiny Frog
Paa jiulongensis (Anura - Ranidae) Jiulong Spiny Frog
Paa liui (Anura - Ranidae) Ninglang Paa Frog
Paa maculosa (Anura - Ranidae) Piebald Spiny Frog
Paa medogensis (Anura - Ranidae) Medog Spiny Frog
Paa robertingeri (Anura - Ranidae) Hejiang Spiny Frog
Paa shini (Anura - Ranidae) Spiny-flanked Frog
Paa taihangnicus (Anura - Ranidae) Jiyuan Paa Frog
Paa yei (Anura - Ranidae) Henan Spiny Frog
Pseudoamolops multidenticulatus ** (Anura - Ranidae) Dayuling Frog
Pseudoamolops sauteri ** (Anura - Ranidae) Sauter's Wood Frog
Rana anlungensis (Anura - Ranidae) Anlung Odorous Frog
Rana bannanica (Anura - Ranidae)
Rana caldwelli (Anura - Ranidae) Caldwell's Frog
Rana chaochiaoensis (Anura - Ranidae) Chaochiao Brown Frog
Rana chevronta (Anura - Ranidae) Chevron-spotted Brown Frog
Rana dauchina (Anura - Ranidae) Emei Music Frog
Rana exiliversabilis (Anura - Ranidae) Huangkeng Odorous Frog
Rana fukiensis * (Anura - Ranidae) Fukien Gold-striped Pond Frog
Rana hejiangensis (Anura - Ranidae) Hejiang Odorous Frog
Rana hubeiensis (Anura - Ranidae) Hubei Gold-striped Pond Frog
Rana junlianensis (Anura - Ranidae) Junlian Odorous Frog
Rana kuangwuensis (Anura - Ranidae) Kuangwu Odorous Frog
Rana kukunoris (Anura - Ranidae) Plateau Brown Frog
Rana kunyuensis (Anura - Ranidae) Kunyu Brown Frog
Rana latouchii * (Anura - Ranidae) Brown Wood Frog
Rana leporipes (Anura - Ranidae) Longtou Odorous Frog
Rana lini (Anura - Ranidae) Lin's Frog
Rana longicrus ** (Anura - Ranidae) Long-legged Frog
Rana lungshengensis (Anura - Ranidae) Lungshen Odorous Frog
Rana minima (Anura - Ranidae) Little Gland Frog
Rana nasuta (Anura - Ranidae) Hainan Odorous Frog
Rana nigrolineata (Anura - Ranidae)
Rana nigrotympanica (Anura - Ranidae)
Rana omeimontis (Anura - Ranidae) Omei Brown Frog
Rana plancyi (Anura - Ranidae) Beijing Gold-striped Pond Frog
Rana pleuraden (Anura - Ranidae) Yunnan Pond Frog
Rana sangzhiensis (Anura - Ranidae) Sanzhi Groove-toed Frog
Rana shuchinae (Anura - Ranidae) Gland-shanked Pond Frog
Rana sinica (Anura - Ranidae) Ahl's Odorous Frog
Rana spinulosa (Anura - Ranidae) Fine-spined Frog
Rana swinhoana ** (Anura - Ranidae) Swinhoe's Brown Frog
Rana tenggerensis (Anura - Ranidae) Yellow River Frog
Rana tientaiensis (Anura - Ranidae) Tientai Rough-skinned Frog
Rana versabilis (Anura - Ranidae) Bamboo Leaf Odorous Frog
Rana weiningensis (Anura - Ranidae) Weining Groove-toed Frog
Rana wuchuanensis (Anura - Ranidae) Wuchuan Odorous Frog
Rana zhengi (Anura - Ranidae) Zhangcun Frog
Rana zhenhaiensis (Anura - Ranidae) Zhenhai Brown Frog
Buergeria oxycephalus (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Hainan Stream Treefrog
Buergeria pollicaris ** (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Taiwan Buerger's Frog
Buergeria robusta ** (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Brown Tree Frog
Kurixalus idiootocus ** (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Meintein Tree Frog
Philautus medogensis (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Medog Small Treefrog
Philautus menglaensis (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Mengla Small Treefrog
Philautus ocellatus (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Ocellated Small Treefrog
Polypedates chenfui (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Chenfu's Treefrog
Polypedates nigropunctatus (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Black-snouted Treefrog
Polypedates pingbianensis (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Pingbian Treefrog
Polypedates puerensis (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Puer Treefrog
Polypedates yaoshanensis (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Yaoshan Treefrog
Polypedates zhaojuensis (Anura - Rhacophoridae)
Rhacophorus arvalis ** (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Farmland Green Tree Frog
Rhacophorus aurantiventris ** (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Orange-belly Tree Frog
Rhacophorus moltrechti ** (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Moltrecht's Green Tree Frog
Rhacophorus prasinatus ** (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Emerald Green Tree Frog
Rhacophorus taipeianus ** (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Taipei Green Tree Frog
Rhacophorus verrucopus (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Serrate-toed Treefrog
Theloderma kwangsiense (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Kwangsi Warty Treefrog
Andrias davidianus (Caudata - Cryptobranchidae) Chinese Giant Salamander
Batrachuperus cochranae (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Cochran's Stream Salamander
Batrachuperus karlschmidti (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Chiala Mountain Salamander
Batrachuperus londongensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Longdong Stream Salamander
Batrachuperus pinchonii (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Western Chinese Stream Salamander
Batrachuperus taibaiensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Taibai Stream Salamander
Batrachuperus tibetanus (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Alpine Stream Salamander
Batrachuperus yenyuanensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Yenyuan Stream Salamander
Hynobius amjiensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Amji Salamander
Hynobius arisanensis ** (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Alisan's Salamander
Hynobius chinensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Chinese Salamander
Hynobius formosanus ** (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Formosan Salamander
Hynobius sonani ** (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Sonani's Salamander
Hynobius yiwuensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Yiwu Salamander
Hynobius yunanicus (Caudata - Hynobiidae)
Pachyhynobius shangchengensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Shangcheng Stout Salamander
Protohynobius puxiongensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Puxiong Salamander
Ranodon flavomaculatus (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Yellow-spotted Salamander
Ranodon shihi (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Wushan Salamander
Ranodon tsinpaensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Tsinpa Salamander
Cynops chenggongensis (Caudata - Salamandridae) Chenggong Fire-bellied Newt
Cynops cyanurus (Caudata - Salamandridae) Chuxiong Fire-bellied Newt
Cynops orientalis (Caudata - Salamandridae) Oriental Fire-bellied Newt
Cynops orphicus (Caudata - Salamandridae) Dayang Newt
Cynops wolterstorffi x (Caudata - Salamandridae) Yunnan Lake Newt
Echinotriton chinhaiensis (Caudata - Salamandridae) Chinhai Spiny Newt
Pachytriton brevipes (Caudata - Salamandridae) Black-spotted Stout Newt
Pachytriton labiatus (Caudata - Salamandridae) Spotless Stout Newt
Paramesotriton caudopunctatus (Caudata - Salamandridae) Spot-tailed Warty Newt
Paramesotriton chinensis (Caudata - Salamandridae) Chinese Warty Newt
Paramesotriton fuzhongensis (Caudata - Salamandridae) Wanggao Warty Newt
Tylototriton hainanensis (Caudata - Salamandridae) Hainan Knobby Newt
Tylototriton kweichowensis (Caudata - Salamandridae) Red-tailed Knobby Newt
Tylototriton shanjing (Caudata - Salamandridae)
Tylototriton taliangensis (Caudata - Salamandridae) Taliang Knobby Newt
Tylototriton wenxianensis (Caudata - Salamandridae) Wenxian Knobby Newt
Additional endemic amphibian species that were recognized as distinct species too recently to be included in Frost (2004) are given below. This list is primarily based on information from the IUCN Red List (here) and the current version of the Amphibian Species of the World database (here) and includes species described through 2008. In addition to the 205 endemic amphibian species listed above, these additional 52 species total 257 species of amphibians known solely from China.
Bufo andrewsi (Anura - Bufonidae) Andrew's Toad 1925
Bufo luchunnicus (Anura - Bufonidae) 2008
Bufo menglianus (Anura - Bufonidae) 2008
Pseudepidalea zamdaensis (Anura - Bufonidae) Zamda Toad 1999
Limnonectes bannaensis (Anura - Dicroglossidae) 2007
Nanorana pleskei (Anura - Dicroglossidae) Plateau Frog 1896
Quasipaa boulengeri (Anura - Dicroglossidae) Spiny-bellied Frog 1889
Hyla chinensis * (Anura - Hylidae) Common Chinese Treefrog 1859
Leptobrachium ailaonicum (Anura - Megophryidae) Ailao Moustache Toad 1983
Leptobrachium huashen (Anura - Megophryidae) Jingdong Spadefoot Toad 2005
Leptobrachium promustache (Anura - Megophryidae) Dawei Spiny Toad 2006
Oreolalax lichuanensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Lichuan Toothed Toad 1979
Scutiger ruginosus (Anura - Megophryidae) 1982
Xenophrys binchuanensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Binchuan Horned Frog 1995
Xenophrys huangshanensis (Anura - Megophryidae) Huangshan Horned Frog 2005
Amolops aniqiaoensis (Anura - Ranidae) Aniqiao Sucker Frog 2005
Amolops caelumnoctis (Anura - Ranidae) Luchun Sucker Frog 2007
Amolops chunganensis (Anura - Ranidae) Chungan Torrent Frog 1929
Amolops medogensis (Anura - Ranidae) Medog Sucker Frog 2005
Babina adenopleura * (Anura - Ranidae) East China Music Frog 1909
Hylarana hekouensis (Anura - Ranidae) Heko Frog 2008
Hylarana menglaensis (Anura - Ranidae) Mengla Frog 2008
Odorrana hainanensis (Anura - Ranidae) Hainan Frog 2001
Odorrana macrotympana (Anura - Ranidae) 2008
Odorrana nanjiangensis (Anura - Ranidae) Nanjiang Odorous Frog 2007
Odorrana rotodora (Anura - Ranidae) 2008
Odorrana yizhangensis (Anura - Ranidae) Yizhang Odorous Frog 2007
Odorrana zhaoi (Anura - Ranidae) Zhao's Odorous Frog 2008
Rana cangyuanensis (Anura - Ranidae) Cangyuan Frog 2008
Rana culaiensis (Anura - Ranidae) Mount Culai Frog 2008
Rana hanluica (Anura - Ranidae) Yangmingshan Mountains Frog 2007
Rana maoershanensis (Anura - Ranidae) Maoershan Frog 2007
Kurixalus hainanus (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Hainan Flying Frog 2005
Philautus hainanus (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Hainan Small Treefrog 2004
Polypedates impresus (Anura - Rhacophoridae) 2008
Polypedates spinus (Anura - Rhacophoridae) 2008
Rhacophorus hui (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Zhaojue Flying Frog 1945
Rhacophorus laoshan (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Laoshan Flying Frog 2008
Rhacophorus minimus (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Dayao Flying Frog 2006
Rhacophorus omeimontis (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Omei Treefrog 1924
Rhacophorus yinggelingensis (Anura - Rhacophoridae) Yinggeling Flying Frog 2007
Theloderma albopunctata (Anura - Rhacophoridae) White-banded Small Treefrog 1962
Hynobius fuca ** (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Taiwan Lesser Salamander 2008
Hynobius glacialis ** (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Nanhu Salamander 2008
Hynobius guabangshanensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Guabang Shan Salamander 2004
Hynobius maoershanensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Xingan Salamander 2006
Pseudohynobius kuankuoshuiensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Kuankuoshui Salamander 2007
Pseudohynobius shuichengensis (Caudata - Hynobiidae) Shuicheng Salamander 1998
Pachytriton archospotus (Caudata - Salamandridae) Guidong Stout Newt 2008
Paramesotriton hongkongensis (Caudata - Salamandridae) Hong Kong Warty Newt 1962
Paramesotriton longliensis (Caudata - Salamandridae) Longli Warty Newt 2008
Paramesotriton zhijinensis (Caudata - Salamandridae) Zhijin Warty Newt 2008