Thursday, July 2, 2020

[Herpetology • 2020] Tylototriton phukhaensis • A New Species of Tylototriton (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Nan Province, Northern Thailand


กระท่างน้ำดอยภูคา  ||  Tylototriton phukhaensis 
Pomchote, Khonsue, Thammachoti, Hernandez, Suwannapoom et Nishikawa

in Pomchote, Khonsue, ... et Nishikawa, 2020. 

ABSTRACT
A new species of the genus Tylototriton, obtained from Doi Phu Kha National Park, Nan Province, northern Thailand,is described based on molecular and morphological evidenceand named herein as Tylototriton phukhaensis sp. nov. The new speciesis morphologically distinct from thefour known Thai Tylototriton species(T. panhai, T. uyenoi, T. anguliceps and T. verrucosus),in having a prominent, narrow, and straight sagittal ridge on the head that distinguishes itfrom the other Thai species.The molecular analysis also indicated that the new species is a distinct lineage and sister to T. anguliceps and T. uyenoi.The knowledge obtained in this study will greatly contributeto conductingthe future conservation of Thai Tylototriton.

KEY WORDS: molecular phylogeny, morphology, new species, Thailand, Tylototriton


FIGURE 4. Male Tylototriton phukhaensis sp. nov. in its habitat.
Photo by Porrawee Pomchote. 

Tylototriton phukhaensis Pomchote, Khonsue, Thammachoti, Hernandez, Suwannapoom et Nishikawa sp. nov.

(Thai name: กระท่างน้ำดอยภูคา - Kra Tang Nam Doi Phu Kha)
(English name: Doi Phu Kha newt)

Tylototriton  errucosus: Nabhitabhata and Chan-ard (2005): 181.
Tylototriton uyenoi: Hernandez (2016): 168.



Diagnosis: The new species is placed in the genus Tylototriton by having the combination of dorsal  granules present; dorsolateral bony ridges on head present; knob-like warts (rib nodules) on dorsolateral body present; quadrate spine absent. Tylototriton  phukhaensis sp. nov. differs from  other congeners by having the following morphological characters: medium size, adult SVL 64.3 mm in male and 68.9–70.2 mm in females; skin rough with fine granules; sagittal ridge on head narrow, long, and distinct; vertebral ridge distinct and weakly segmented; rib nodules prominent; limbs long and thin;tips of forelimb and hindlimb overlapping when adpressed along body; tail thin.

Etymology: The specific epithet phukhaensisis derived from the name of Doi Phu Kha National Park, where the species occurs.

Distribution: The distribution of Tylototriton phukhaensis sp. nov.is currently only known from a single locality in atemporary  swamp in  the Doi Dong Ya  Wai  Mountain, Doi Phu Kha National Park,  Nan Province, northern Thailandat an elevation of 1,795 m  amsl (Fig. 7). The  Phu  Kha Mountain or Doi Phu Kha is one of the mountains located along the Luang Prabang Range that  consists of a series of high mountain ranges from Thailand to Laos (Fig.1). Thus, the range distribution of this species is expected to be wider.


Porrawee Pomchote, Wichase Khonsue, Panupong Thammachoti, Axel Hernandez, Parada Peerachidacho, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Yasuho Onishi and Kanto Nishikawa. 2020. A New Species of Tylototriton (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Nan Province, Northern Thailand. Tropical Natural History. 20(2); 144-161. tci-thaijo.org/index.php/TNH/article/view/240064