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| Occidozyga shiwandashanensis Chen, Peng, Liu, Huang, Liao & Mo, 2022 |
A new species of the genus Occidozyga is reported from Southern Guangxi, China, based on morphological characters and molecular analyses. Morphological data revealed that the new species, Occidozyga shiwandashanensis sp. nov., differs from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) medium body size (SVL 25.2−33.8 mm in males, 34.9−38.9 mm in females); (2) pale brown dorsum with irregular pale dark spots, especially on head; (3) creamy white ventral surface with brown spots on lateral margin and throat; (4) tongue fleshy, rounded, without notch, (5) tympanum hidden; (6) finger webbing absent and toe webbing full, but fourth toe not webbed to discs; (7) tips of fingers pointed, tips of toes rounded, slightly expanded into disc. The new species occurs on Mt. Shiwandashan and inhabits montane evergreen forests at 500−600 m a.s.l.
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| A: Dorsal view; B: Lateral view; C: Ventral view; D: Ventral view of foot; E: Ventral view of hand. Photos by Wei-Cai Chen. |
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| F: Various individuals showing broad pale-yellow stripe from tip of snout to vent; G: Various individuals showing broad pale yellow transverse stripe on posterior of eyes. Photos by Wei-Cai Chen. |
Occidozyga shiwandashanensis sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Occidozyga shiwandashanensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) medium body size (SVL 25.2−33.8 mm in males, 34.9−38.9 mm in females); (2) pale brown dorsum with irregular pale dark spots, especially on dorsal surface of head; (3) creamy white ventral surface with brown spots on lateral margin and throat; (4) tongue fleshy, rounded, without notch, (5) tympanum hidden; (6) finger webbing absent and toe webbing full, but fourth toe not webbed to disc; (7) tips of fingers pointed, tips of toes rounded, slightly expanded into disc; (8) tarsal fold present; (9) eyes laterally oriented.
Ecology and distribution: The new species occurs in an evergreen forest at Mt. Shiwandashan between 500−650 m a.s.l. Specimens were found in muddy patches. Advertisement calls were heard during fieldwork, but no amplectant pairs were discovered. Eggs were found near muddy areas attached to plant roots close to but not in water. To date, this species is only known from Mt. Shiwandashan.
Etymology: The specific epithet “shiwandashanensis” refers to the type locality, Mt. Shiwandashan. The suggested English name is Shiwandashan Puddle Frog, and the Chinese name is Shi Wan Da Shan Fu Wa (十万大山浮蛙).
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| H: Maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) trees based on mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA gene fragments. Node supports are indicated on branches as ML support and Bayesian posterior probabilities. |
Wei-Cai Chen, Wan-Xiao Peng, You-Jun Liu, Zhong Huang, Xiao-Wen Liao and Yun-Ming Mo. 2022. A New Species of Occidozyga Kuhl and van Hasselt, 1822 (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Southern Guangxi, China. Zoological Research. 43(1); 85-89. DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2021.252