 |
| Leptobrachella yunyangensis Luo, Deng & Zhou, in Luo, Wang, Peng, Lei, Deng, Ji, Huang et Zhou, 2022. |
Abstract
Herein we describe a new species, Leptobrachella yunyangensis sp. nov., from Yunyang County, Chongqing City, China, based on a combination of molecular and morphological data. Phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and six nuclear genes indicated that this new species represented an independent evolutionary lineage. The uncorrected genetic distance between the new species and its closest congener species, L. oshanensis, was 5.4 % for 16S rRNA. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) moderate body size (SVL 28.3–30.6 mm in males); (2) rough dorsal skin, with sparse large granules and tubercles and short longitudinal ridges on the shoulder; (3) distinctly discernible tympanum with a diameter smaller than that of the eye (TMP/EYE ratio: 0.51) and a distinct black supratympanic line present; (4) an internasal distance almost equal to interorbital distance (IND/IOD ratio: 1.05); (5) flanks with several dark spots arranged longitudinally in two rows; (6) distinctly visible supra-axillary, femoral, pectoral, and ventrolateral glands; (7) bicolored iris, with the upper 1/3 of the iris being copper orange and the lower 2/3 a light silvery grey; (8) relative finger lengths of I < II = IV < III and relative toe lengths of I < II < V < III < IV; (9) absence of webbing and lateral fringes on fingers, and toes with rudimentary webbing and narrow lateral fringes; (10) heels overlapping when the thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; (11) tibiotarsal articulation reaching to the anterior corner of the eye when the leg is stretched forward; (12) ventral surfaces of the throat, chest, and belly greyish white with purple-brown speckling; (13) lacking distinct blackish dorsolateral markings; and (14) transverse dark brown bars on the surfaces of limbs and digits.
Keywords: mitochondrial DNA; morphology; new species; nuclear gene; taxonomy
 |
| Morphological features of the live adult male holotype GZNU20210629001 of Leptobrachella yunyangensis sp. nov. A: dorsolateral view; B: dorsal view; C: ventral view; D: ventral view of the hand; E: ventral view of the foot. Photos A to E were taken at around 9:00 am. |
 |
| Morphological features in life. Leptobrachella yunyangensis sp. nov., paratype GZNU2021062200. A: dorsal view; B: dorsolateral view; C: ventral view; D: ventral view of the hand; E: ventral view of the foot. Photos A to E were taken at around 9:00 am. |
Leptobrachella yunyangensis sp. nov. Luo, Deng and Zhou
Diagnosis: Leptobrachella yunyangensis sp. nov. can be
distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the
following characters: (1) moderate body size (SVL 28.3–30.6 mm
in males); (2) rough dorsal skin, with sparse large granules
and tubercles and short longitudinal ridges on the shoulder;
(3) distinctly discernible tympanum with a diameter smaller
than that of the eye (TMP/EYE ratio: 0.51) and a distinct
black supratympanic line present; (4) an internasal distance
almost equal to interorbital distance (IND/IOD ratio: 1.05); (5)
flanks with several dark spots arranged longitudinally in two
rows; (6) distinctly visible supra-axillary, femoral, pectoral, and
ventrolateral glands; (7) bicolored iris, with the upper 1/3 of
the iris being copper orange and the lower 2/3 a light silvery
grey; (8) relative finger lengths of I < II = IV < III and relative
toe lengths of I < II < V < III < IV; (9) absence of webbing and
lateral fringes on fingers, and toes with rudimentary webbing
and narrow lateral fringes; (10) heels overlapping when the thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; (11) tibiotarsal
articulation reaching to the anterior corner of the eye when
the leg is stretched forward; (12) ventral surfaces of the throat,
chest, and belly greyish white with purple-brown speckling;
(13) lacking distinct blackish dorsolateral markings; and (14)
transverse dark brown bars on the surfaces of limbs and digits.
Etymology: The specific epithet yunyangensis is in reference to the type locality, Lianhua Village, Renhe Town, Yunyang County, Chongqing, China. For the common name, we suggest “Guishi Leaf Litter Toad”, and for the Chinese name “Gui Shi Zhang Tu Chan (贵师掌突蟾)”. The year 2021 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of Guizhou Normal University, which has made outstanding contributions to the training of teachers in Guizhou Province and the promotion of zoological research in China, and I would like to express my heartfelt wishes to Guishi, which comes from the abbreviation of Guizhou Normal University.
Tao LUO, Weifeng WANG, Dong PENG, Bo LEI, Huaiqing DENG, Shengnan JI, Heqing HUANG and Jiang ZHOU. 2022. A New Species of the Asian Leaf Litter Toad Genus Leptobrachella (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae) from Chongqing City, Southwest China. Asian Herpetological Research. 13(2); 75-95. https://link.oversea.cnki.net/doi/10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.210052
DOI: 10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.210052
