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ABSTRACT
AmphibiaChina, an open-access, web-based database, is designed to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information on Chinese amphibians. It offers an integrated module with six major sections. Compared to other known databases including AmphibiaWeb and Amphibian Species of the World, AmphibiaChina has the following new functions: (1) online species identification based on DNA barcode sequences; (2) comparisons and discussions of different major taxonomic systems; and (3) phylogenetic progress on Chinese amphibians. This database offers a window for the world to access available information of Chinese amphibians. AmphibiaChina with its Chinese version can be accessed at http: //www.amphibiachina.org.
Keywords: Amphibia; Taxonomy; Species identification; DNA barcoding; Tree of life
Being the third largest country in the world, China possesses multiple biodiversity hotspots, which harbor a rich diversity of amphibians. Because of the rapid accumulation of many kinds of data for Chinese amphibians, it is desirable to have a versatile platform to integrate all new advances and promote their accessibility to scientists, governmental agencies, and the inquisitive public.
Currently, two online databases deal exclusively with amphibians: "AmphibiaWeb" (2015) and "Amphibian Species of the world" (Frost, 2015). The latter provides detailed taxonomic history and the former provides information on natural history, conservation, as well as its own taxonomic system for amphibians. Both databases host information on Chinese amphibians, yet they sometimes conflict with regard to the taxonomic validity of some species. This owes to multiple causes, such as being unaware of Chinese literature or not having access to it, the language barrier, the lack of communications between scholars, and philosophical differences regarding assignments of species to genera and the recognition of other higher taxonomic categories. Such controversies create significant confusion, even for the professional herpetologists. For the public and most governmental agencies, it may be much worse. Various textbooks and popular presses use outdated nomenclature, invalid species names, and sometimes even convey the wrong information about species and the incorrect identification of species. Among a cornucopia of concerns, this situation causes...