Abstract：During a herpetological trip in western Sichuan Province in August of 2001, a new species of the genus Japalura (Sauria : Agamidae) was found. Its detail description is given in Chinese text, and the diagnosis is given below.
Japalura zhaoermii sp. nov.
Holotype: CIB2001-GZF0001, an adult male. 25 August 2001; Mianchi Town (31.35N, 103.57E), Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, China, altitude 1,240 meters; collected by GAO Zheng-fa, LIU Qing, and QIN Ai-min.
Allotype: CIB2001-GZF0002, an adult female. Collected date, locality, and collectors are the same as the holotype.
Paratypes: 3 males (CIB2001-GZF0003～ CIP2001-GZF0005) and 2 females (CIB2001-GZF0006, CIB2001-GZF0007). Collected date, locality, and collectors are the same as the holotype; 2 sub-adults (CIB2001-GZF0008, CIB2001-GZF0009), collected by HOU Mian at the same locality on 14 August, 2001.
The holotype, allotype, and seven paratypes of the new species are preserved in the Herpetological Museum, Chengdu Institute of Biology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Diagnosis: The new species is related to Japalura flaviceps Barbour and Dunn, 1919. It differs from the latter in ① rostral scale wide and low, usually bordered by five small scales along its upper margin, the median one larger (fig.1); ② gular pouch of the male green; ③ generally eight black, radiated stripes around the eye, the four above the eye somewhat wider, the three below the eye slender, and the most wide one being posterior to the eye and obliquely extending to the posterior corner of the mouth; ④ top of head with several black or dark brown transverse bands; and ⑤ a brilliant yellow band along each side of the back, enclosing a series of about five (occasionally six) dark brown squarish blotches, usually without yellow centers. While in Japalura flaviceps ① rostral scale bordered by five to seven small scales along iits upper margin, no larger median one; ② gular pouch of the male dirty yellow; ③ no black radiated stripes around the eye; ④ top of head dusky brown, without black transverse bands; and ⑤ b arilliant yellow band along each side of the back, enclosing a series of about seven (occasionally six) irregular dark brown rhombs with yellow centers.
Etymology: This species is named tin honor of Professor Zhao Er-mi for his studies on Chinese amphibians and reptiles and tireless in helping young herpetologists of China.