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| Amolops albispinus FIGURE 3. Dorsolateral view of adult male holotype SYS a003454 of Amolops albispinus sp. nov. in life; B: ventral view of the holotype in life; C: hand of the holotype in life; D: foot of the holotype in life. |
Abstract
A new species, Amolops albispinus sp. nov. is described based on a series of specimens collected from Mt. Wutong, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. The new species can be distinguished from other known congeners by molecular divergence in the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA gene and morphological characters including presence of white conical spines on the lips, loreal and temporal regions, excluding the tympanum; small body, SVL 36.7–42.4 mm in adult males and 43.1–51.9 mm in adult females; very rough dorsal skin of body with numerous raised large warts; olive-brown dorsum with dark brown blotches; strongly developed vomerine teeth; absence of vocal sacs; absence of tarsal glands; absence of dorsolateral folds; presence of circummarginals groove on the disk of first finger; and absence of outer metatarsal tubercles. At present, the genus Amolops contains 51 species, of which 23 occur in China.
Keywords: Amphibia, Amolops albispinus sp. nov., Anura, China, mitochondrial DNA, morphology, Ranidae
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| FIGURE 3. Dorsolateral view of adult male holotype SYS a003454 of Amolops albispinus sp. nov. in life; G: close-up of the head of the holotype in life. |
Etymology. The specific name, albispinus, refers to the “white spines” on the upper and lower lips, and loreal and temporal regions, which are the diagnostic features of this new species. As an English common name we suggest “White-spined Cascade Frog”.
Distribution and ecology. Currently, Amolops albispinus sp. nov. is known from the type locality of Mt. Wutong, and from Mt. Paiya, which is 30 km from Mt. Wutong, in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China. This species is common in Mt. Wutong throughout the year, whereas, it was observed to be rare in Mt. Paiya (only one specimen (SYS a002436) found). It inhabits low to mid-elevation (60–500 m) rocky, fast-flowing streams surrounding by moist subtropical secondary evergreen broadleaved forests.
Sung, Yik-Hei, Ping Hu, Jian Wang, Hai-Jun Liu and Ying-Yong Wang. 2016. A New Species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from southern China.
Zootaxa. 4170(3); 525–538. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4170.3.6
Zootaxa. 4170(3); 525–538. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4170.3.6
