Archipelagos and oceanic islands have remarkably high levels of endemism, which is associated with rapid speciation. The Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica), one of critically endangered Asia pangolin species, occurs in southern Yunnan, China, and on oceanic islands via the Malay peninsula. The question of whether the distribution of Malayan pangolins between the mainland and nearby marine islands has led to deep population differentiation is not well addressed. In-depth investigation of population structure and genetic consequences is of vital importance for protection and conservation of Malayan pangolins. Here we carried out a large-scale population genomic analysis for Malayan pangolins, which revealed three highly distinct genetic populations. The largest population was found to be distributed over a wide area extending from mainland China to almost the whole of South East Asia. The other two smaller populations reported in this study were inferred from Borneo. In addition, based on multiple lines of genomic and skull morphological evidences, we confirmed the existence of a fifth Asian pangolin species (M. mysteria). Genetic diversity and genome-wide inbreeding were at moderate levels, indicating that anthropogenic factors did not significantly weaken the basis of genetic sustainability for Malayan pangolins. However, Malayan pangolins from northeastern Borneo exhibited low genetic diversity, high levels of inbreeding and mutational load, thereby necessitating attention to their protection.

Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827, represents the most diverse reptile genus in the Himalayan region. Despite ongoing research, Cyrtodactylus diversity remains incompletely documented in Nepal. We describe a new species from Sunsari District in eastern Nepal using integrated morphological and genetic evidence. Belonging to the C. khasiensis group, Cyrtodactylus khambui sp. nov. is distinguished from regional congeners by: (1) smaller body size (SVL < 60 mm), (2) proportional head dimensions, (3) interorbital-head width proportion (IO/HW%), (4) dorsal patterning of 7-9 irregular transverse crossbars, (5) absence of a mid-dorsal line, (6) presence of eight small precloacal pores, and (7) >12% mitochondrial ND2 sequence divergence from its closest relative (C. martinstolli). Phylogenetic analyses (maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference) and species delimitation unanimously support its distinct evolutionary status. Cyrtodactylus khambui sp. nov. exhibits color variation among individuals, lacks femoral pores and grooves, and inhabits diverse ecosystems including anthropogenic structures (abandoned walls) and natural forests (Sal-dominated and mixed deciduous).

For millennia, traditional hunting practices have provided a means of subsistence for numerous indigenous peoples worldwide. Not only do managed traditional hunting practices perpetuate Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), but they also promote the sustainable utilization of natural resources. However, the contribution of ethnic minority traditional hunting cultures to the conservation of bird diversity remains understudied in China. The Yao people employ a unique ‘bird‐basin’ hunting practice during the migratory season in the Dayao mountains. In order to assess the impact of forest utilization practices on bird diversity, this study compares the bird diversity in the hunting grounds of the Yao people with that in old‐growth forests and in firewood forests. We found a significantly higher level of bird species richness in the hunting grounds than in the old‐growth forests and the firewood forests. Functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity were similar in the old‐growth forests and hunting grounds and were lowest in the firewood forests. Most of the birds captured by bird‐basins were migratory species that were small in size and not threatened . ‘Bird‐basin’ hunting could be an effective way of resolving conflicts between bird diversity conservation and regional economic development. Unlike firewood forests, forests within hunting grounds are proactively and effectively managed by the Yao people and require no external funding. We recommend considering traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and managed hunting strategies when managing forests outside protected areas, particularly in areas inhabited by indigenous peoples. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica), a critically endangered myrmecophage, often develops severe gastrointestinal disturbance after trafficking, creating major challenges for post-rescue rehabilitation. We integrated 16S rRNA gene sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, untargeted metabolomics, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) quantification of short-chain fatty acids to investigate gut ecosystem recovery in rescued pangolins across the first abnormal fecal stage, 1 week post-rescue, and 1 month post-rescue. Fecal consistency improved during rehabilitation, accompanied by a shift from facultative taxa enriched in Streptococcus and Lactobacillus to a more anaerobic community containing Clostridium, Romboutsia, Bacteroides, and related taxa. Metagenomic and metabolomic profiles indicated recovery of functions associated with chitin degradation, short-chain fatty acid production, amino acid metabolism, and cofactor biosynthesis. Increased fecal butyrate and multi-omics associations supported recovery of microbial metabolic function. These findings provide insight into the microbial and metabolic dynamics of gut ecosystem recovery in rescued pangolins and may help assess rehabilitation progress in this critically endangered species.

Pangolins, such as the critically endangered Chinese and Malayan species, often develop stereotypic behaviors in captivity. To automate the detection of these behaviors, we propose a video recognition method using an improved YOLO v8n-CBAM model. It detects pangolins and maps their image coordinates to real-world locations, generating movement trajectories. These are segmented and analyzed by a ResNet18 model to identify stereotypic behavior. Our improved YOLO model achieves 99.93% recall and 95.63% mAP@0.50:0.95. Trajectory distance accuracy reaches 98.48%, and stereotypic behavior periods are detected with an average accuracy of 96.37%. This automated approach provides a scientific basis for improving pangolin husbandry and conservation management.

Wild Chinese pangolins ingest soil and nest-associated materials while feeding on ants and termites, but these materials are generally absent from captive diets. We assessed whether termitarium soil supplementation was associated with changes in fecal bacterial communities and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles in captive Chinese pangolins. Four adults participated in a sequential within-subject trial comprising a basal diet, a basal diet supplemented with sterilized termitarium soil, and a basal diet supplemented with unsterilized termitarium soil. Fecal bacterial communities were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and SCFAs were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Community composition differed across dietary stages, whereas alpha diversity did not. At the genus level, Bacteroides abundance was lower during the sterilized-soil stage, whereas Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia abundance was higher during the unsterilized-soil stage than during the basal-diet stage. Relative to the basal-diet stage, both soil-supplemented stages had lower fecal concentrations of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate. Partial redundancy analysis showed an overall association between the SCFA profile and the selected bacterial genera. PICRUSt2-based predictions also differed across dietary stages, particularly for Xenobiotics Biodegradation and Metabolism. Overall, termitarium soil supplementation was associated with variation in fecal bacterial composition, SCFA concentrations, and predicted functional potential in captive Chinese pangolins. These findings provide a basis for further research on the role of soil-associated materials in the dietary management of captive pangolins.

Using an integrative dataset of both mitochondrial DNA and morphological data, we describe a new species of the genus Acanthosaura from the China-Myanmar border region in Menglian County, Pu’er, Yunnan Province, China. The new species, Acanthosaura aurantiogularis sp. nov., is sister to A. tongbiguanensis, and it can be readily diagnosed from all recognized congeners by its bright orange gular coloration in the male, flesh colored oral cavity, moderate post-orbital spines and occipital spines, five or six well-developed nuchal crest scales, and a distinct dorsal coloration. We recommend further comprehensive phylogenetic studies of the genus and highlighted the understudied agamid diversity in northeastern Myanmar.

Reptiles and amphibians are highly threatened and constitute a major part of the global exotic pet trade. Therefore, it is essential to document the scale of their trades not only for wildlife conservation, but also for sustainable use of resources. However, little is known regarding the pet trade of herpetofauna outside the West. By synthesizing a comprehensive, multi-sourced dataset including international trade databases, online surveys, and literature reviews, we reveal the extent and characteristics of China's severely overlooked herpetofauna pet trade. Not only does China's trade achieve an astonishing scale, involving 1619 species with substantial volumes, but it is also imbedded in the complex international trade network. Our data identify a clear geographical pattern on the international trade of China, with Hong Kong serving as a key transitional site and a trafficking center. For the first time, we show that China's herpetofauna pet trade is dominated by freshwater turtles and tortoises, which is unprecedented based on published data. Moreover, China's native herpetofauna has been chased by the international market and traded insidiously with secondary transitional sites. Such under-documented and underregulated global trade, coupling with evident trafficking, threatens non-native, endangered species and China's endemic species through overexploitation. Furthermore, the wide trade and domestic breeding of non-native species greatly increases the risk of biological invasion in China. Together, our results highlight the importance of filling data gaps from major developing nations, and we call for collaborative efforts on law enforcements and regulation makings to properly manage the global herpetofauna pet trade.

As a myrmecophagous specialist, the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) faces digestive challenges due to the chitin-rich diet of ants and termites, especially without teeth to chew. To investigate its digestive strategy, we analyzed the distribution of fecal particle sizes in wild and captive pangolins and measured the mean retention time (MRT) of particles and solutes of food in captive specimens. The mean particle size (dMEAN) in wild pangolin feces (0.452 mm) was slightly larger than that in captive pangolins (0.387 mm), but the difference was not statistically significant. Particle and solute digesta markers showed similar excretion patterns, but exhibited different retention times (particle MRT: 52.58-82.02 h; solute MRT: 29.99-52.81 h), resulting in a selectivity factor of 1.64. These results suggest that this extended retention, facilitated by intestinal elongation and potential gastric separation mechanisms, potentially represents an evolutionary adaptation to cope with a diet composed of both easily digestible components and chitinous exoskeleton relatively refractory to digestion.

BACKGROUND:The Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) is a critically endangered species that may harbor diverse zoonotic pathogens. This study aimed to characterize tick species parasitizing confiscated Malayan pangolins and determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) associated with these ticks. METHODS:We employed morphological and molecular approaches to identify ticks parasitizing pangolins confiscated in Guangdong Province between 2021 and 2024. A total of 435 adult ticks were collected from 32 pangolins and pooled into 87 groups (5 ticks per pool). Pooled tick samples were screened for SFGR by PCR targeting three rickettsial genes (gltA, ompA, and ompB), followed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS:All collected ticks were identified as Amblyomma javanense. The pool positivity rate for SFGR was 41.4% (36/87), with a minimum infection rate of 8.3% (36/435; 95% CI: 5.8-11.2%). Molecular characterization identified the detected agent as Candidatus Rickettsia jingxinensis (Ca. Rickettsia jingxinensis), an agent recently confirmed to infect humans. CONCLUSION:These findings provide baseline data for tick-borne pathogen surveillance in the context of pangolin conservation and illegal wildlife trade control, highlighting the potential public health relevance of the pangolin-tick interface.

Parachute Geckos of the genus Gekko (Ptychozoon) are known for their extreme morphology for camouflage and gliding. Because of the cryptic lifestyle of its constituent species, little is known about the diversity of the subgenus, particularly in northern Indochina close to the northern edge of its distribution. Here we describe a new species of the subgenus from southwestern Yunnan Province close to the Myanmar border. The new species is sister to Gekko bannaensis on the basis of mitochondrial genealogy, and it shows substantial genetic divergence (9% of ND2 gene) and clear morphological distinctions by having different numbers of caudal cutaneous lobes and diagnostic conditions of the preaxial antebrachial flaps and dorsal bands. We report additional specimens of a recently described, poorly known species of the subgenus, G. bannaensis, from the vicinity of its type locality, and we describe its morphological variation for the first time. We discuss the distribution and diversity of the subgenus in northern Indochina and we highlight cryptic diversity in the Gekko kuhli complex.

Despite continuous progress made on the taxonomy of the genus Tropidophorus,the Lao Water Skink,T.laotus,is only known from brief descriptions of its syntypes in historical literature.Here we designate a lectotype and paralectotype of the species,redescribe the species based on the type series and newly collected topotypes,provide the first colored photographs of taxonomically-verified individuals,and estimate its phylogenetic position using mitochondrial DNA data for the first time.Using these comparable data,we confirm that the previously identified"T.berdmorei"population from southern Yunnan Province,China,represents a distinct new species that is closely related and morphologically similar to T.laotus,but differs from true T.laotus by having considerable genetic divergence(4.7%-4.8%for 12S,3.2%-4.2%for 16S)and distinct morphological characters(e.g.,undivided frontonasal scales and a distinct color pattern of the throat).The southern Yunnan population is therefore described as a new species.With the above newly acquired data,we update the checklist and the provincial-level distribution of the genus Tropidophorus in China and compile an updated key to all recognized species of the genus from China and Indochina.

Multi-object pedestrian tracking is essential in computer vision, and the accuracy of detectors significantly influences overall tracking performance. Nonetheless, pedestrian detection faces challenges like occlusion and multi-scale variability. To address these issues, we present YOLO-RED, an enhanced detection model derived from YOLOv8. Firstly, to improve the ability of feature extraction, we incorporate Receptive-Field Attention Convolution (RFAConv) into the C2f module, hence creating the C2f-RFAConv module. Secondly, we introduce the Efficient Multi-Auxiliary Feature Pyramid Network (EMAFPN), which enhances multi-scale feature fusion capabilities. Finally, we create the Dynamic Task Alignment Detection Head (DTA-Head) to increase localization accuracy while minimizing model parameters. The proposed method is systematically evaluated on a mixed dataset comprising the CrowdHuman and MOT17 datasets. Pedestrian detection experiments indicate that YOLO-RED enhances mAP50 by 1.9%, mAP95 by 3.0%, and reduces parameter size by 18.0% compared to YOLOv8s. YOLO-RED outperforms YOLOv8s in pedestrian tracking tasks, enhancing HOTA by 2.1%, IDF1 by 2.2%, and MOTA by 3.2%. These improvements demonstrate the effectiveness of YOLO-RED in enhancing pedestrian detection and tracking capabilities in a variety of real-world scenarios.

Proteus mirabilis, an important zoonotic opportunistic pathogen, is widely found in nature and the intestinal tracts of animals, which can cause diarrhea, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and other symptoms in domestic animals including sheep, pigs, cattle and chickens. In this study, necropsy of a deceased critically endangered Malayan pangolin revealed lobar pneumonia in the lungs and hepatocyte necrosis with hepatic cord disintegration in the liver. A strain of Proteus mirabilis (PM2022) was isolated from the affected lungs and liver. This bacterium exhibited multidrug resistance, being susceptible only to cefoxitin and amikacin. Whole-genome sequencing identified 26 antibiotic resistance genes, including CTX-M-65, FosA3, which mediate resistance to five classes of antibiotics, such as penicillins and quinolones. Additionally, 20 virulence factors (including the T6SS secretion system, hemolysins HpmA/B, among others) were detected. Mouse experiments confirmed its high pathogenicity (LD50 = 1.45 × 109 CFU/mL). Based on experimental and genomic testing results, the initial symptoms of Proteus mirabilis infection in pangolins manifest in the lungs, liver, and intestines, and the use of penicillins and quinolones should be avoided during treatment. This study offers clinical guidance for diagnosing and treating P. mirabilis infections in pangolins, informing evidence-based antimicrobial strategies.

Lazy Toads of the genus Scutiger are a diverse group of alpine specialists in Asia. Despite continuous research on the taxonomy of the genus, the diversity is still underestimated. Integrating both molecular and morphometric analyses, we describe three new species of the genus Scutiger from the Gaoligong Mountain Range in Yunnan Province, China. Morphologically, these three species resemble S. gongshanensis, S. mammatus, and S. boulengeri, respetively, but they can be diagnosed from these recognized species and all other congeners by a suit of morphological characters, including the toe webbing status, numbers of pectoral glands and axillary glands with nuptial spines in breeding males, and the number of fingers covered with nuptial spines in breeding males. Additionally, they show considerable genetic divergences with respect to their morphologically similar species. We discussed the still underestimated diversity in Southwest China, the existing taxonomic problems of the genus, particularly regarding the validity and the whereabouts of type specimens of S. bangdaensis, S. biluoensis, and S. meiliensis, and we provide an updated key to all recognized species of China.