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| Brachytarsophrys wenshanensis He, Ai, Huang, Li, Liu, Lan, Chen & Yuan, 2024 |
Abstract
A new species of the genus Brachytarsophrys, named Brachytarsophrys wenshanensis sp. nov., has been identified in southeastern Yunnan, China. This new species can be readily distinguished from other known congeners by both morphological criterion and molecular analysis of three mitochondrial gene segments: 16S, COI, and Cytb. This classification is based on the following morphological characters: (1) medium body size (SVL 83.8–85.1 mm in two adult males); (2) enormous head, with head width nearly 1.2 times the length; (3) tongue pyriform, feebly notched; (4) non-meeting heels; (5) male lacking nuptial pad; (6) tibiotarsal articulation reaching angle of mouth when hindlimbs are extended forward alongside the body; (7) absence of outer metatarsal tubercle, inner metatarsal tubercle elliptic and approximately equal to first toe; (8) rudimentary toe webbing, webbing formula: I (2–) – (2++) II (2–) – (3++) III (2½) – (4) IV (4 +) – (2⅔) V; (9) lateral fringes narrow; (10) dermal ridge or glandular fold on dorsum absent; (11) pectoral glands distinct and irregular, femoral gland small. Our work increases the number of species within the genus Brachytarsophrys to 9.
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| Morphology of Brachytarsophrys wenshanensis sp. nov. (SWU 0004072): (A) Dorsal view; (B) Ventral view; (C) Dorsolateral view; (D) Head dorsal view; (E) Foot dorsal view; (F) Foot ventral view; (G) Hand dorsal view; (H) Hand ventral view. |
Brachytarsophrys wenshanensis He, Huang, Li, Chen, Yuan, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: The new species is assigned to the genus Brachytarsophrys morphologically based on: (1) medium body size (SVL 83.8–85.1 mm in two adult males); (2) enormous head, with head width nearly 1.2 times the length; (3) tongue pyriform, feebly notched; (4) non-meeting heels; (5) male lacking nuptial pad; (6) tibiotarsal articulation reaching angle of mouth when hindlimbs are extended forward alongside the body; (7) absence of outer metatarsal tubercle, inner metatarsal tubercle elliptic and approximately equal to first toe; (8) rudimentary toe webbing, webbing formula: I (2–) – (2++) II (2–) – (3++) III (2½) – (4) IV (4+) – (2⅔) V; (9) lateral fringes narrow; (10) dermal ridge or glandular fold on dorsum absent; (11) pectoral glands distinct and irregular, femoral gland small.
Etymology: The specific name wenshanensis is derived from the type locality of this species, Wenshan National Nature Reserve, in Xichou County, Wenshan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China.
Common names: wén shān duǎn tuǐ chán (文山短腿蟾 in Chinese) / Wenshan Short-legged Toad or Wenshan Horned Toad (in English).
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| The habitat of Brachytarsophrys wenshanensis sp. nov.: (A) Microhabitat of the holotype; (B) Macrohabitat; (C) Close-up of Brachytarsophrys wenshanensis sp. nov. |
Yanhong HE, Renda AI, Junkai HUANG, Xianqi LI, Xiaolong LIU, Junlin LAN Jinmin CHEN and Zhiyong YUAN. 2024. Morphological and Molecular Data Revealed One New Species of the Short-legged Toads Brachytarsophrys Tian and Hu, 1983 (Anura, Megophryidae) from Yunnan, China. Asian Herpetological Research. 15(1); 22 - 30. DOI: 10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2023.0042
