The Amphibian and Reptile Diversity of Myanmar (Burma)

美国加州科学院（CAS）已获得一笔赠款，用于继续对缅甸进行爬行动物调查。国家科学基金会先前的一笔拨款，使他们对内陆低地的爬虫动物群进行了详细调查，对毗邻的高地进行了初步侦察，并培训了一支林业人员的科学测量方法。剩下的就是调查缅甸与孟加拉国、印度、中国和泰国接壤的几乎未开发的山区。其中一些地区是保护重点，包括两个国际保护组织的生物多样性热点地区和八个世界野生动物联合会的全球200个生态区域。鉴于这些地区独特的生态系统，以及栖息地的日益丧失，在这个时候进行调查至关重要。拟议完成的全国爬行动物调查将对缅甸无与伦比的深度的爬行动物区系进行首次评估。初步调查使已知的两栖动物和爬行动物多样性增加了21%（16种以前不知道在缅甸出现的物种和估计56种未描述的物种）。对亚洲爬虫动物群进行生物学研究所必需的标本和组织样本将提供给科学界。通过这些调查、出版物以及对美国和缅甸学生和缅甸林业部工作人员的培训，缅甸对爬行动物的了解和认识正在扩大，从而使缅甸林业部能够做出更明智的管理和保护决策。美国和缅甸公众将通过学院、缅甸林业部博物馆和缅甸生物多样性博物馆的博物馆展览，通过制作海报和其他教育材料，了解缅甸的生物多样性及其重要性。在中国科学院教育司的协助下，缅甸网站将扩大与缅甸调查相关的主题，这些主题将引起年轻受众的兴趣。

A grant has been awarded to the California Academy of Sciences (CAS) to continue a herpetological survey of Myanmar. A previous NSF grant resulted in a detailed survey of the interior lowland herpetofauna, a preliminary reconnaissance of the bordering highlands, and training a team of Forestry personnel in scientific surveying methods. What remains is to survey the virtually unexplored mountainous regions along Myanmar's borders with Bangladesh, India, China and Thailand. Some of these areas are conservation priorities and contain two of Conservation International's biodiversity hotspots and eight of World Wildlife Federation's Global 200 ecoregions. Given the unique ecosystems of these areas, and the increasing loss of habitat, it is critical to conduct surveys at this time. The proposed completion of a countrywide herpetological survey will yield the first assessment of Myanmar's herpetofauna of incomparable depth. The initial survey has increased the known amphibian and reptile diversity by 21% (16 species previously not known to occur in Myanmar and an estimated 56 undescribed species). Specimens and tissue samples, essential for biological studies of the Asian herpetofauna, will be available to the scientific community. Through these surveys, publications, training of US and Myanmar students and Myanmar Forest Department staff, the knowledge and awareness of Myanmar's herpetofauna are expanding, thereby allowing the Myanmar Forest Department to make more informed management and conservation decisions. The American and Myanmar public will be informed about Myanmar's biodiversity and its importance through museum exhibits at both the Academy, the Myanmar Forest Department Museum and the Myanmar Biodiversity Museum through the production of posters and other educational materials. With the assistance of CAS's Education Division, the Myanmar website with Myanmar survey-related topics that will be of interest to younger audiences will be expanded.