First use of artificial canopy bridge by the world's most critically endangered primate the Hainan gibbon Nomascus hainanus.

All gibbon species (Primates: Hylobatidae) are facing high extinction risk due to habitat loss and hunting. The Hainan gibbon Nomascus hainanus is the world's most critically endangered primate, and one of the priority conservation actions identified is to establish artificial canopy corridors to reconnect fragmented forests. The effectiveness of artificial canopy bridge as a conservation tool for wild gibbons has not been widely tested, and the results are rarely published. We constructed the first canopy bridge for Hainan gibbon in 2015 to facilitate passage at a natural landslide; mountaineering-grade ropes were tied to sturdy trees with the help of professional tree climbers and a camera trap was installed to monitor wildlife usage. Hainan gibbon started using the rope bridge after 176 days, and usage frequency increased with time. All members in the gibbon group crossed the 15.8 m rope bridge except adult male. Climbing was the predominant locomotor mode followed by brachiation. This study highlights the use and value of rope bridges to connect forest gaps for wild gibbons living in fragmented forests. While restoring natural forest corridors should be a priority conservation intervention, artificial canopy bridges may be a useful short-term solution.

A new phytotelm-breeding treefrog of the genus Nasutixalus (Rhacophoridae) from western Yunnan of China.

A new treefrog of the genus Nasutixalus is described from montane evergreen forest in Yingjiang County, in western Yunnan, China. The new species, Nasutixalus yingjiangensis sp. nov., can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: medium body size (SVL 39.5-40.0 mm in adult males, 47.5 mm in a single female); tympanum indistinct and covered with tubercles; disc diameter of third finger greater than tympanum diameter; dorsal skin relatively smooth, scattered with small tubercles, those on head and anterior dorsum of body more dense and more prominent; light brown above with a dark brown marking between eyes and two broad dark brown lateral strips on the dorsum; iris with a weak "X"-shaped, light colored marking; interorbital distance shorter than the upper eyelid width; comparatively short foot (mean TFL/SVL ratio 67.0% and 62.9% in males and female respectively). The new species appears to be forest-dependent and was found in well-preserved montane rainforest; it inhabits the canopy and breeds in tree holes during the rainy season. The type locality of the new species is an isolated forest fragment surrounded by degraded landscape and efforts are already underway to protect the site. Nasutixalus yingjiangensis sp. nov. represents the third known species of the newly established genus Nasutixalus.

Rediscovery of the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) in Yingjiang County,Yunnan Province,China.

The sun bear, Helarctos malayanus (Raffles, 1821), is a forest-dependent bear species distributed in tropical Southeast Asia. The species was previously reported from scattered localities in southwestern China, which is at the northeastern edge of its global range. Due to the scarcity of reliable recent records, some authorities cast doubt on the continued existence of sun bear in China. Here we present the rediscovery of this species in Yingjiang County, western Yunnan Province, China, near the international border with Myanmar's Kachin State.

A new species of the genus Leptobrachium (Anura: Megophryidae) from the Gaoligongshan Mountain Range, China.

We describe a new species of the genus Leptobrachium from the Gaoligongshan Mountain Range, Yunnan Province of China based on molecular and morphological evidences. The new species, Leptobrachium tengchongense sp. nov., can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) relatively small size (adult males SVL 41.7-51.5 mm); (2) head width slightly larger than head length; (3) tympanum indistinct; (4) two palmar tubercles oval and distinct, inner one larger than outer one; (5) sexually active males without spines on the upper lip; (6) dorsal skin smooth with distinct network of ridges; (7) dorsum pinkish grey and scattered with irregular black markings; (8) venter dark purplish-gray with numerous small white spots on tubercles, solid white chest; (9) iris bicolored, upper one-third light blue, lower two-third dark brown. With the description of the new species, the number of Leptobrachium species currently known from China adds up to ten.

Two new species of the genus Goniurosaurus (Squamata: Sauria: Eublepharidae) from southern China.

Two new species of large geckos in the genus Goniurosaurus are described based on specimens collected from karst areas of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China: Goniurosaurus kadoorieorum sp. nov. and Goniurosaurus kwangsiensis sp. nov. Data on natural history of the new species are provided, as well as discussions on the current conservation status of Goniurosaurus species in southern China. Due to the popularity of this genus as novelty pets, and recurring cases of scientific descriptions driving herpetofauna to near-extinction by commercial collectors, we do not disclose the collecting localities of these restricted-range species in this publication. However, such information has been presented to relevant government agencies, and is available upon request by fellow scientists.

A new species of the genus Opisthotropis Gunther, 1872 (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae) from Guangdong Province, China.

A new natricid snake of the genus Opisthotropis Gunther, 1872, Opisthotropis laui sp. nov., is described from Mt. Gudou, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, China. The new species can be distinguished from other congeners by the combination of the following characters: dorsal scales weakly keeled throughout, in 25:23:23 rows; 10 supralabials; 11 infralabials; two internasals, longer than wide, not touching the loreal; one loreal, not touching the eye; one preocular; two postoculars; one anterior temporal scale; 152 ventrals; 53 subcaudals; body and tail dark olive above, with light yellow crossbars.