"Disappeared" for more than half a century! This critically endangered species appears

According to the Sichuan Emeishan Forestry Management Office, staff members recently discovered three critically endangered amphibians, the spotted forest frog , during routine patrols and monitoring. The species has reappeared after being "disappeared" for more than 50 years.

Staff from the Emeishan Forestry Management Office carry out daily patrol and monitoring work.

Liang Dong, an engineer at the Ecological Station of the Emeishan Forestry Administration, participated in the search. He said: "In recent years, our Forestry Administration has increased its cooperation with major scientific research institutions. This time, through clues provided by scientific research institutions, we found three individuals suspected to be Rana fasciatus."

It is reported that the spotted forest frog is a species unique to Mount Emei. It lives in a mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest area at an altitude of about 1,800 meters and feeds on a variety of insects and small animals. It was jointly named by Hu Shuqin and Ye Changyuan, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1978. The 2019 assessment results of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) showed that the spotted forest frog was critically endangered (CR).

Rana punctata

"The earliest specimen of the Rana scaly-spottedensis was collected and traced back to around 1965, so it disappeared for more than 50 years without being found. The entire scientific community found it incredible at the time," said Wang Gang, a professor at Chengdu Normal University. "According to my personal understanding, this species may have originally been a very small population with a very narrow distribution in Mount Emei. In addition, the current global climate change may have changed the activity rhythm of this species to a certain extent."

These three individuals suspected to be the spotted forest frog were further identified by the Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and were finally confirmed to be the spotted forest frog that had disappeared for more than half a century.

"It has very important scientific significance. First of all, we have a standard to determine whether a species is extinct, that is, if no surviving individual is found in 50 years, we can judge that the species is extinct. The spotted forest frog has been rediscovered by us after more than 50 years. On the one hand, it confirms that species in nature have the ability to self-repair and recover, which enhances our confidence in biological protection in the future; on the other hand, the rediscovery of this species also provides our scientists with some precious basic data on endangered species." Wang Gang said.

It is reported that Mount Emei's unique natural environment and geographical location have nurtured rich biodiversity. The mountain has more than 3,700 species of wild higher plants and more than 2,300 species of wild animals. "In the next step, we will strengthen the protection and publicity of Mount Emei's biodiversity, improve the monitoring system, and ensure that Mount Emei's biodiversity becomes increasingly rich," said Xia Zhonglin, deputy director of Sichuan Mount Emei Forest Ecology Station.

Planning and production

Source: People's Daily Online - Sichuan Channel

Editor: Yinuo

Proofread by Xu Lailinlin