The phylogenetic relationships of East Asian members of the genus Eumeces with their American relatives are analyzed by two different phylogeny inference methods, i. e., parsimony method using the Branch and Bound algorithm, and the neighbor-joining method based on morphological characters, such as scutellation and coloration. Eumeces quadrilineatus, which forms a distinct species-group by itself, is chosen as an outgroup. These analyses elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among species and species-groups within the genus. Five species-groups, including the E. quadrilineatus group, are recognized in East Asia. Taylor's “E. fasciatus species-group” is subdivided into three species-groups, i. e., the North American E. fasciatus group, and the insular and continental groups in East Asia. The insular group, named the E. latiscutatus species-group, consists of E. latiscutatus, E. okadae, E. barbouri, E. marginatus, E. stimpsonii, and E. elegans, whereas the continental group, named the E. capito species-group, includes E. capito, E. tunganus, E. liui, and E. popei. The former is differentiated in Taiwan and Japan (including the Ryukyu Archipelago), whereas the latter becomes spectated allopatrically in the continent. On the other hand, Taylor's “E. obsoletus group” is divided into three distinct species-groups, the monotypic Southeast Asian E. tamdaoensis, East Asian E. chinensis (including E. kishinouyei), and North American E. obsoletus species-groups. These three species-groups are different from one another and do not share apparent derived character states. The biogeographical aspects of the speciation of these skinks are discussed. The neighbor-joining method, developed for analyzing genetic data, is proved to be applicable to the analysis of morphological data.

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Karyotypes of six species of frogs from Yunnan Province, China, were described for the first time. Leptobrachium chapaensis had 2n=24 chromosomes composed of six large and six small pairs. Rana andersonii and R. maculosa had 2n=26 chromosomes comprising five large and eight small pairs. The karyotype of R. unculuana was unique among the advanced anurans in having 2n=40 chromosomes forming a graded series. Polypedates dugritei had 2n=26 chromosomes consisting of five large and eight small pairs, and Rhacophorus rhodopus had 2n=26 chromosomes with five large, one medium, and seven small pairs. The six species examined here belong to the Pelobatidae, Ranidae, and Rhacophoridae, and the karyotypes of these species excepting R. unculuana agree, in general, with the common karyotypes of the three families. Taxonomic status of each species is discussed on the basis of karyological features.

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Rana chensinensis, a brown frog from Shaanxi, China, is morphometrically compared with Japanese relatives, R. ornativentris, R. dybowskii and R. pirica. All these species are characterized by 2n=24 chromosomes. Rana pirica, which has long been regarded as conspecific with R. chensinensis, is morphologically more remote from topotypes of the latter species than are the two remaining species.

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Reproductive traits of female Rana nigromaculata inhabiting northern Ina Basin, Nagano Prefecture, were studied for two breeding seasons. The breeding season lasts at least two months between mid May and early July. This prolonged breeding is caused by markedly asynchronous development of ovarian eggs among females. Smaller females tend to breed later in the season than larger ones. Clutch size and ovum size are positively correlated with female snout-vent length.

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