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| Amolops chaochin Jiang, Ren, Lyu & Li, in Jiang, Ren, Lyu, Wang, ... et Li, 2021. |
Abstract
Amolops chunganensis is a species complex and reported widely from eastern, southern, and southwestern China. Based on molecular data of 19 populations of A. chunganensis sensu lato from China, including the population from Mt. Wuyi (type locality), we recognize A. chunganensis sensu stricto and provide an expanded description based on the topotypic specimens. Combining morphological and molecular data, we describe a new species, Amolops chaochin sp. nov., from southwestern China, which was previously identified as A. chunganensis. The new species is distinguished from all other species in the A. monticola group by: (1) moderate body size, SVL 35.3−39.2 mm in males (n=7), and 50.5−54.4 mm in females (n=7); (2) distinct tympanum, larger than half of eye diameter; (3) small tooth-like projection on anteromedial edge of mandible; (4) circummarginal groove on all fingers; (5) white tubercles on dorsal side of posterior body in both sexes; (6) distinct tubercles on dorsal thigh and white spinose tubercles on dorsal tibia in both sexes; (7) white tubercles on posterior region of tympanum in males; (8) toe webbing reaching disk by dermal fringe on inner side of toe II; (9) vomerine teeth present; (10) transverse bands on dorsal limbs; (11) external vocal sacs present in males. We further reviewed the assignment of Amolops groups, with an overall revision of membership and diagnosis of all species groups.
Keywords: Amolops chaochin sp. nov., Complex, Distribution, Amolops gerbillus, Amolops chayuensis group, Amolops spinapectoralis group
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| Figure 7. General and close-up views of Amolops chaochin sp. nov. in life, showing color variation among individuals and features in amplexus A: Adult male from Jiguanshan, Chongzhou, Chengdu, Sichuan; B–C: Adult males from Xiling Snow Mountain, Dayi, Chengdu, Sichuan; D: General view of mating pairs in amplexus in axillary amplectic positions, upper: male, lower: female; E: Close-up view of pair of developed external subgular vocal sacs in male (see arrows); F: Close-up views of male forelimbs in axillary amplectic positions. Photos by Jin-Long Ren. |
Amolops chaochin sp. nov. Jiang, Ren, Lyu, and Li
Diagnosis: According to the morphological characters of the A. monticola group stated by Stuart et al. (2010), Amolops chaochin sp. nov. is placed in the A. monticola group based on the following diagnosis: (1) skin relatively smooth; (2) dorsolateral fold distinct; (3) lateral side of head black, upper lip stripe yellowish white extending to shoulder.
Amolops chaochin sp. nov. is distinguished from all other congeners in the A. monticola group by the following combination of characters: (1) moderate body size, SVL 35.3−39.2 mm in males (n=7) and 50.5−54.4 mm in females (n=7); (2) tympanum distinct, larger than half of eye diameter; (3) small tooth-like projection on anteromedial edge of mandible; (4) circummarginal groove on all fingers; (5) white tubercles on dorsal side of posterior body in both sexes; (6) distinct tubercles on dorsal thigh and white spinose tubercles on dorsal tibia in both sexes; (7) white tubercles on posterior region of tympanum in males; (8) toe webbing reaching disk by dermal fringe on inner side of toe II; (9) vomerine teeth present; (10) transverse bands on dorsal limbs; (11) external vocal sacs present in males.
Etymology: Specific epithet “chaochin” is named after Prof. Ch’eng-Chao Liu (1900–1976) and his wife Prof. Shu-Chin Hu (1914–1992), combining the last words of their given names “Chao” and “Chin”. Prof. Liu and Prof. Hu both greatly contributed to Chinese herpetology and established the Herpetological Museum at the Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. During their fieldwork in Mt. Emei, Prof. Liu and Prof. Hu found the first pair of specimens of this new species. Furthermore, based on field observations from 1938 to 1940, Prof. Liu published the detailed life history of this new species under the name “Staurois chunganensis” (Liu 1941), and the specimens collected by Prof. Liu are still preserved in CIB (Figure 8A).
We suggest the English common name as “Chaochin’s Torrent Frog” and the Chinese common name as “钊琴湍蛙 (in Chinese Pinyin: Zhāo Qín Tuān Wā)”.
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| Habitat of Amolops chaochin sp. nov. at 1,179 m a.s.l. on Jiguanshan, Chongzhou, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. |
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| Figure 9. Habitat of Amolops chaochin sp. nov. at 1,179 m a.s.l. on Jiguanshan, Chongzhou, Chengdu, Sichuan, China Type series were found across rocky, flowing streams (A) and adjacent pools (B, mating pair in situ on stones), ditches, and shrubs. Photos by Jin-Long Ren. |
Ke Jiang, Jin-Long Ren, Zhi-Tong Lyu, Dan Wang, Zeng Wang, Ke Lv, Jia-Wei Wu and Jia-Tang Li. 2021. Taxonomic Revision of Amolops chunganensis (Pope, 1929) (Amphibia: Anura) and Description of A New Species from southwestern China, with Discussion on Amolops monticola group and Assignment of Species Groups of the Genus Amolops. Zoological Research. 42(5); 574-591. DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.107
