 |
| Microhyla hmongorum Microhyla xodangorum Hoang, Nguyen, Phan, Pham, Ninh, Wang, Jiang, Ziegler & Nguyen, 2022 |
ABSTRACT
We provide the first distribution pattern of the Microhyla heymonsi group based on available molecular and morphological data collected from East and Southeast Asia. Our analyses show a high level of genetic diversity in the M. heymonsi group with nine distinct lineages from China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, as well as Singapore, and Indonesia. The study also reveals the discovery of two new species in Vietnam, Microhyla hmongorum sp. nov. from Lai Chau Province and Microhyla xodangorum sp. nov. from Kon Tum Province. When comparing the 12S–16S rRNA gene, the genetic divergence between Microhyla xodangorum and other congeners of the Microhyla heymonsi group ranges from 7.5-- to 8.9% (M. cf. heymonsi) and approximately 8.4% between the new species and M. heymonsi s. str. from Taiwan, China. The genetic divergence between Microhyla hmongorum and its congeners ranges from 4.5–5.6% (M. cf. heymonsi) to 8.7% (Microhyla xodangorum). These new findings bring the total number of known species in the genus Microhyla to 48 and the recorded species of Microhyla from Vietnam to 14.
Keywords: Microhyla, morphology, molecular phylogeny, Lai Chau, Kon Tum
 |
| Microhyla hmongorum sp. nov., ♂, holotype (IEBR A.4905 (TD-LC2020.121)). A. Dorsolateral view in life. B. Ventral view in life. C. Underside of left hand. D. Underside of right foot. E. Lateral view of the head. Scale bars = 1 mm. |
Microhyla hmongorum sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Microhyla hmongorum sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: 1) size small (SVL 13.8–17.4 in 5 ♂♂; 19.2–20.3 in 3 ♀♀); 2) snout profile acuminate; 3) dorsal skin smooth with tiny and flat tubercles unevenly scattered, dorsolateral edges not sharp; 4) chest and belly creamy-white fades towards the groin and thighs with indistinct grayish mottling along the thighs and belly edges, chin, throat pinkish white with scattered indistinct grayish mottling; 5) first finger longer than one half of second finger.
Etymology: The specific name is a patronym for the H’Mong people, an ethnic minority people in the northwest montane regions of Vietnam. Their assistance made it possible for us to collect the type specimens of the new species in the montane forest of Lai Chau Province, northwestern Vietnam.
We recommend ‘Hmong Narrow-Mouth Frog’ as the common English name
and ‘Nhái bầu hmông’ as the Vietnamese name.
 |
| Microhyla xodangorum sp. nov., ♀, holotype (IEBR A.4913 (KP-MĐ-2018-21)). A. Dorsolateral view in life. B. Ventral view in life. C. Underside of right hand. D. Underside of right foot. Scale bars = 1 mm. |
Microhyla xodangorum sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Microhyla xodangorum sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: 1) size large (SVL 25.6 in a single ♀); 2) snout profile round; 3) dorsal skin almost smooth with flat tubercles evenly scattered in dorsum; dorsolateral edges sharp; 4) chest and belly yellowish with indistinct greyish mottling laterally; chin grey with thickly greyish mottling and a thin, light-coloured medial stripe not reaching the chest; 5) first finger longer than one half of second finger; 6) disks on distal end of fingers II–IV weak; 7) tibiotarsal articulation at straightened limb well beyond snout.
Etymology: The specific name is a patronym for the Xo Dang people, an ethnic minority people in Kon Tum Province, Vietnam. Their assistance made it possible for us to collect the holotype of the new species in the montane forest of the Kon Tum Plateau, Central Highlands of Vietnam.
We recommend ‘Xodang Narrow-mouth Frog’ as the common English name
and ‘Nhái bầu xơ đăng’ as the Vietnamese name.
Chung Van Hoang, Tao Thien Nguyen, Tien Quang Phan, Cuong The Pham, Hoa Thi Ninh, Bin Wang, Jianping Jiang, Thomas Ziegler and Truong Quang Nguyen. 2022. Distribution Pattern of the Microhyla heymonsi Group (Anura, Microhylidae) with Descriptions of Two New Species from Vietnam. European Journal of Taxonomy. 846(1), 1-41. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.846.1961
