Hi Tim, I hope you are wrong about E.chinhaiensis
showing up in the Japanese market or any market that is. They are highly endangered and totally protected by the chinese government. I will admit some probably due slip through the cracks for the high price I'm sure they fetch in Japan and other markets abroad. Mr. Feng Xie has been doing ecological research on them for some time and has been monitoring a steady decline ( less than 70 females with nests in 2003)in the population. This may not sound low for one population but you must consider there is now thought to be only one population reproducing viable young. The other populations have had the breeding ponds and habitat destroyed by nearby farms using pesticiedes, cleaners ect... Mr. Xie estimates that there are only 150-300 individual E.chinhaiensis left in the wild. On a good note, they have been successful in captive breeding the species. Several researchers in North America and abroad are currently raising funds for Mr. Xie's research and to intiate cb programs in some local ZOO's in North America to increse the genetic diversity of the cb lineages be fore it's to late. We do not want another golden toad "bufo periglenes" incident.
It is possible that T.asperrimus are being imported as E.chinhaiensis as well and the ones being sold are misidentified. I must add, Tim keep up the great work on the forum, I greatly enjoy your pics and info!!!!
Craig