Diversity and Distribution Patterns of Amphibians and Reptiles in Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province

Historically, there has been a lack of systematic research on the amphibian and reptile diversity in Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province. This study presents a comprehensive survey of amphibian and reptile populations in Xinyu City, conducted from July to August 2023 through line transect and interview survey methodologies. The MaxEnt model was utilized to predict suitable distribution areas for these taxa, based on data from 1 415 distribution sites and five environmental variables. Furthermore, a protection gap analysis was performed in conjunction with the distribution of existing natural reserves. The survey recorded a total of 2 566 amphibians across 20 species, 16 genera, and 7 families, as well as 144 reptiles comprising 23 species, 18 genera, and 8 families. Notably, one species is classified as nationally protected under Category Ⅱ; six species are listed as vulnerable (VU) and two as near threatened (NT) according to the IUCN Red List; additionally, one species is categorized as endangered (EN), nine as vulnerable (VU), and five as near threatened (NT) on the China Red List of Biodiversity. The survey also identified five endemic species in China and one new species for Jiangxi Province, Takydromus kuehnei. The species Microhyla fissipes and Takydromus septentrionalis were found to be dominant within the amphibian and reptile communities, respectively. The highest diversity was observed among terrestrial amphibians and reptiles. The conservation gap analysis revealed that while high-quality habitats for amphibians and reptiles are widely distributed, they are only represented in 2.15% and 5.24% of the existing nature reserves, respectively. These findings indicate that Xinyu City possesses a rich diversity of amphibian and reptile resources; however, there exists a significant protection gap. It is recommended that further detailed assessments be conducted on the concentrated suitable habitat areas to enhance conservation efforts and facilitate ongoing monitoring. This study contributes valuable insights for identifying critical habitats and protection zones for amphibians and reptiles, thereby providing a scientific foundation for the development of relevant conservation and management strategies.