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| Liurana namchabarwa Yu, Lin, Wang, Jiang & Xie, in Yu, Lin, Y. Wang, Zheng, Shi, B. Wang, Jiang, Song et Xie, 2024. |
Abstract
A new species of the genus Liurana is described from Medog, Xizang, China, based on morphological and molecular data. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial gene COI indicated that this new species represented an independent evolutionary lineage. In addition, the uncorrected genetic distance between the new species and its closest congener species, L. alpina, was 9.6%–9.8% for COI. The new species, Liurana namchabarwa sp. nov. Yu, Lin, Wang, Jiang and Xie, could be distinguished from its congeners by following characters: (1) relatively large body size in this genus, SVL = 21.2–23.1 mm in adult males ( n = 3); (2) relatively narrow head (HL/HW = 100.5%–104.8% ( n = 3)); (3) digital disc not expanded; (4) relatively long hindlimbs, with tibiotarsal articulation reaching tip of snout when adpressed.
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| Holotype of Liurana namchabarwa sp. nov. in life (adult male, CIB119800). A: Dorsolateral view; B: Ventral view; C: Ventral close-up of hand; D: Ventral close-up of foot; E: Lateral view of head; F: Detailed of the tongue. |
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| Variation of Liurana namchabarwa sp. nov. in life. A: Holotype (CIB119800), adult male; B: Paratype (CIB119801), adult male; C: Paratype (CIB119802), adult male. 1: Dorsolateral view; 2: Ventral view. |
Liurana namchabarwa sp. nov. Yu, Lin, Wang, Jiang and Xie
Diagnosis:
Liurana namchabarwa sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Liurana by its phylogenetic position and the following morphological characters: (1) body size small (SVL 21.2–23.1 mm, n = 3); (2) large, oval tongue with notch and scattered small papillae; (3) interdigital webbing absent; (4) tarsal fold absent; (5) vomerine teeth absent; and (6) vocal sac and vocal sac openings absent.
Liurana namchabarwa sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) SVL 21.2–23.1 mm; (2) HL larger than HW; (3) tympanum distinct; (4) tibiotarsal articulation reaching tip of snout when adpressed; (5) metacarpal tubercles absent; and (6) not expanded digital disc.
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| Habitat of Liurana namchabarwa sp. nov. in Nibiri, photographed in June 2022. |
Etymology: The specific epithet of the new species, “ namchabarwa” means “Namcha Barwa Mountain”, indicating that the habitat of this species is very close to the Namcha Barwa Mountain.
We suggest Namchabarwa Papilla-tongued Frog as its English common name and Nan Jia Ba Wa She Tu Wa (南迦巴瓦舌突蛙) as its Chinese common name.
Haoqi YU, Yiheng LIN, Yuxi WANG, Puyang ZHENG, Shengchao SHI, Bin WANG, Jianping JIANG, Zhaobin SONG and Feng XIE. 2024. A New Species of the Genus Liurana (Anura: Ceratobatrachidae) from Medog, China. Asian Herpetological Research. DOI: doi.org/10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2024.0008
