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| Boulenophrys hengshanensis Qian, Hu, Mo, Gao, Zhang & Yang, 2023 |
Abstract
We re-examined the megophryinid population from Mt. Hengshan, Hunan Province, China previously identified as Boulenophrys brachykolos (under the name Megophrys brachykolos). Based on newly obtained molecular data, this population appears to be an independent lineage with a relatively distant phylogenetic relationship to B. brachykolos sensu stricto. Furthermore, this population exhibits distinct morphological characteristics that distinguish it from all its congeners. Therefore, we propose to recognize the Hengshan population of B. brachykolos as a new species, Boulenophrys hengshanensis sp. nov. described herein.
Keywords: Frog diversity, morphology, phylogeny, taxonomy
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| Paratypes of Boulenophrys hengshanensis sp. nov. in life. A, B Male paratype CSUFT HS210605; C, D Female paratype CSUFT HS210604. |
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| Unvouchered calling male frog of Boulenophrys hengshanensis sp. nov. under a bush. |
Boulenophrys hengshanensis sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Among the ten genera of the subfamily Megophryinae, the new species is assigned to Boulenophrys based on its slender body (vs. thickset and stocky in Brachytarsophrys), a distinct tympanum visible (vs. concealed and invisible in Brachytarsophrys), a narrower and non-depressed head (vs. enlarged and depressed in Brachytarsophrys, Grillitschia, Pelobatrachus, and Megophrys), head without a transverse groove behind (vs. present in Brachytarsophrys, Pelobatrachus, and Megophrys), the short temporal region being relatively closer to the posterior corner of eye (vs. elongated and far from posterior corner of eye in Grillitschia, Megophrys, and Pelobatrachus), maxillary teeth present (vs. absent in Ophryophryne), a small horn-like tubercle on upper eyelid present (vs. margin of eyelid smooth in Atympanophrys), supratympanic fold distinctly curved over tympanum (vs. slightly curved or not curved in Atympanophrys), asperities on lower jaw absent (vs. present in Xenophrys), subarticular tubercles on fingers present (vs. absent in Jingophrys, Xenophrys, and Sarawakiphrys), nuptial pad present on fingers I and II in breeding males (vs. absent in Sarawakiphrys, and absent or only present on finger I in Jingophrys), and the absence of ventrolateral tubercles (vs. present in Jingophrys).
Etymology The specific epithet “hengshanensis” refers to Mt. Hengshan, the type locality of the new species.
Tianyu Qian, Ke Hu, Xiaoyang Mo, Zhiwei Gao, Na Zhang and Daode Yang. 2023. A New Species of Boulenophrys from central Hunan Province, China (Anura: Megophryidae). Vertebrate Zoology. 73: 915-930. DOI: 10.3897/vz.73.e100889
