Tag: Amphibians

Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Beijing

Beijing is blessed with a surprising amount of biodiversity.  More than 500 species of bird have been recorded, around 70 species of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and more than 1,500 native plants.  This also holds true for reptiles and amphibians, with 25 reptiles (including 17 snake species) and eight species of amphibian.  These totals compare favourably with the six species of reptile and seven species of amphibian that can be found in all of the UK.

English language resources about Beijing’s wildlife are still scarce, so it is wonderful to see the publication of the terrific “A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Beijing” by W. Scott Lupien, a Beijing-based herpetologist.

This book is a comprehensive guide to identifying all 33 species of reptile and amphibian to be found in Beijing Municipality.  For each species there are stunning photographs, detailed descriptions, including how to distinguish from similar species, and maps with range information.  Videos are available by scanning QR codes.

An example plate from the book, in this case Black-spotted Frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus ⿊斑侧褶蛙 Hēi bān cè zhě wā)

The book is a very reasonable CNY 288 and can be purchased directly from the author via the website beijingherps.com.  Payment via PayPal is accepted.

Scott is to be congratulated on a book of the highest quality that will serve as THE reference for anyone with an interest in these magnificent creatures.  And all the more appropriate that is has been published in the Year of the Snake!  

Go and buy it!

 

Mongolian Toad (Strauchbufo raddei 花背蟾蜍 Huā bèi chán chú)

One of the scarcest native amphibians in Beijing is the Mongolian Toad (Strauchbufo raddei 花背蟾蜍 Huā bèi chán chú).  In other parts of the range, it is sometimes known as the Piebald Toad or the Siberian Sand Toad. It is found in North China, Mongolia, Far Eastern Russia and North Korea.  The scientific name raddei, is in honour of German naturalist Gustav Radde.

As far as I am aware, in Beijing it has been recorded only in the far northwest, around Guanting Reservoir.  I saw my first a couple of years ago at the Kangxi Grassland, adjacent to the reservoir.  During my visits this spring to ShaCheng Wetlands, on the western side of Guanting Reservoir and over the border in Hebei Province, it was a species that I had hoped to encounter.  I have been lucky to see several and have heard a few calling amongst the ubiquitous Dark-spotted Frogs (Pelophylax nigromaculatus ⿊斑侧褶蛙 Hēi bān cè zhě wā).  Last weekend, I heard a few calling as I drove along a track at dusk in perfectly still conditions, providing a fabulous opportunity to record the voice.

The ‘call’ of the Mongolian Toad, May 2025

The northernmost known population is found on Olkhon Island in Lake Baikal. Apparently it hibernates in burrows, often communally.  If you ever find yourself in an area with sandy soil and some wet grass or puddles/dykes and hear the croaking of a toad, it could be this guy!

 

Title image: a Mongolian Toad photographed at night with assistance from the car headlights, May 2025 (Terry Townshend)

 

A Guide to the Amphibians of Beijing

As part of the ongoing effort to provide English-language resources about wildlife in China’s capital city, Birding Beijing is pleased to be able to offer a downloadable PDF about the amphibians that can be found in the city.  This guide has been compiled by R. Nicolas LOU, ZHANG Junduo and Ben WIELSTRA, to whom Birding Beijing owes great thanks.

As with the other guides in the series, we acknowledge that this document is not perfect and the authors welcome any information and photographs that will improve the guide.   Please send via email to the address provided in the guide.  Thank you!

A Guide to the Amphibians of Beijing

 

Header photo: Dark-spotted Frog by Zhang Junduo