''Batrachuperus pinchonii'', the Western Chinese mountain salamander or stream salamander, is a species of hynobid

salamander Salamanders are a group of amphibians typically characterized by their lizard-like appearance, with slender bodies, blunt snouts, short limbs projecting at right angles to the body, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults. All ten ...

that is endemic to China. It is found in

Sichuan Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; alternatively romanized as Szechuan or Szechwan; formerly also referred to as "West China" or "Western China" by Protestant missions) is a province in Southwest China occupying most of the ...

Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is ...

, and

Guangxi Guangxi (; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Kwanghsi; ; za, Gvangjsih, italics=yes), officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the People's Republic ...

provinces. ''Batrachuperis pinchonii'' is known in Chinese legend as the White Dragon. During the 16th century, a Chinese author documented its presence at the Omei mountain in the province of

. He wrote, "the salamanders living in clear water have some larger toes, a yellow coloration with black spots, four feet, a snout that is slightly raised, a graceful body and an amiable air." Moreover, local peasants would entreat it to bring rain during especially dry seasons. ''Batrachuperis pinchonii'' are used for traditional Chinese medicine and for food. Over-collection is now threatening the species. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website has declared ''Batrachuperis pinchonii'' an invasive species in United States.

References

*Chang, Mangven L. Y. 1936. Contribution à l'étude Morphologique, Biologique et systématique des Amphibiens urodèles de la Chine. Libraire Picart, Paris, 156 p. {{Taxonbar, from=Q2638225 pinchonii Amphibians of China Endemic fauna of China Amphibians described in 1872