Habitat directly affects the population size and geographical distribution of wildlife species, including the Mangshan pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis), a critically endangered snake species endemic to China. We searched for Mangshan pit viper using randomly arranged transects in their area of distribution and assessed their habitat association using plots, with the goals of gaining a better understanding of the habitat features associated with P. mangshanensis detection and determining if the association with these features varies across season. We conducted transect surveys, found 48 individual snakes, and measured 11 habitat variables seasonally in used and random plots in Hunan Mangshan National Nature Reserve over a period of 5 years (2012–2016). The important habitat variables for predicting Mangshan pit viper detection were fallen log density, shrub density, leaf litter cover, herb cover and distance to water. In spring, summer and autumn, Mangshan pit viper detection was always positively associated with fallen log density. In summer, Mangshan pit viper detection was related to such habitats with high canopy cover, high shrub density and high herb cover. In autumn, snakes generally occurred in habitats near water in areas with high fallen log density and tall shrubs height. Our study is the first to demonstrate the relationship between Mangshan pit viper detection and specific habitat components. Mangshan pit viper detection was associated with habitat features such as with a relatively high fallen log density and shrub density, moderately high leaf litter cover, sites near stream, and with lower herb cover. The pattern of the relationship between snakes and habitats was not consistent across the seasons. Identifying the habitat features associated with Mangshan pit viper detection can better inform the forestry department on managing natural reserves to meet the habitat requirements for this critically endangered snake species.

The trade‐off between offspring size and number is a crucial concept in life‐history theory, offering key insights into animal reproductive strategies. Our study examines the relationship between reproductive characteristics, morphological traits, and metabolism in a total of 290 female Phrynocephalus lizards across 10 species. Reproductive, morphological, and metabolic traits were compared by analyzing Phrynocephalus lizard species with viviparous and oviparous reproductive modes. The results show no significant differences in reproductive traits between oviparous (6) and viviparous (4) species. Snout‐vent length and standard metabolic rate positively correlated with offspring mass, while no correlation was found with offspring number. The lack of a trade‐off between offspring size and number indicates that larger females invest more in offspring mass rather than offspring number. These results, at least in this genus, were inconsistent with the classic prediction that females give priority to adjusting the number rather than the size of their offspring, enabling us to understand the evolution of the reproductive strategy in reptiles.

Species distribution models (SDMs) have been widely used to predict potentially suitable habitats for species. However, traditional SDMs have been criticized for ignoring the physiological processes by which species respond to their environment. Integrating physiological tolerance into the model is essential to improve the prediction accuracy of SDMs. Currently, this approach has not been applied in the study of Phrynocephalus erythrurus and Phrynocephalus theobaldi, which are part of the world’s highest reptiles and endemic to Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. In this study, based on experiments, we found that the critical thermal minimum (CT_min) of the Phrynocephalus theobaldi was 0.85 °C. Further, we studied the effect of cold tolerance on the prediction of potential areas for these two reptile species. The high suitability area predicted by the SDMs incorporating cold tolerance data were 37.13% smaller than that predicted by the traditional SDMs. The difference between the two SDMs is primarily concentrated at the edges of the high suitability areas. The incorporation of cold tolerance data influenced the model’s predictions by effectively reducing the extent of edges of the high suitability areas. Our findings have theoretical significance for optimizing SDM predictions and provide a robust scientific basis for biodiversity conservation in the extreme-altitude ecosystems of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau.