[Herpetology • 2024] Raorchestes hekouensis • A New Species of Raorchestes (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Yunnan Province, China

Raorchestes hekouensis

Du, Xu, Liu & Yu, 2024

河口灌树蛙  ||  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1192.106013 

Abstract

A new bush frog species is described from Yunnan, China, based on phylogenetic analyses, species delimitation analyses, and morphological comparisons. Raorchestes hekouensis sp. nov. is distinguished from all other congeners by a combination of 11 morphological characters. The new species brings the current number of Raorchestes species in China to ten, nine of which are distributed in Yunnan. Molecular analyses supported an unnamed lineage previously recorded as “Raorchestes gryllus” in northern Vietnam. Further studies including additional samples are necessary to clarify the species diversity and boundaries of Raorchestes in China and Indochina.

Key words: Indochina, “Raorchestes gryllus”, Raorchestes hekouensis sp. nov., species diversity, taxonomy

Photographs of holotype of Raorchestes hekouensis sp. nov. (GXNU YU000159) in life.
Lateral view (A), dorsal view (B), ventral view (C), fingers (D), toes (E), crotch (F).

Photographs of Raorchestes hekouensis sp. nov. paratype (GXNU YU000537) in life,
dorsal view (A), and lateral view (B).

 Raorchestes hekouensis sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis: Raorchestes hekouensis sp. nov. is distinguished from all other relevant congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) small body size (male SLV 16.1–17.5 mm, n = 4; female 21.1 mm, n = 1); (2) tympanum distinct; (3) tips of all fingers and toes expanded into discs with circummarginal grooves; (4) rudimentary webbing on toes; (5) all fingers and toes with lateral dermal fringes; (6) inner metacarpal tubercle present and outer metacarpal tubercle indistinct; (7) heels meeting when limbs held at right angles to body; (8) discs of fingers and toes yellow; (9) male with external single subgular vocal sac; (10) distinct X-shaped dark brown marking on back; (11) inner metatarsal tubercle oval, outer metatarsal tubercle absent.

 

Etymology: The specific epithet hekouensis is named after the type locality, Hekou County, Yunnan, China. We suggest “Hekou bush frog” as its English common name, and “Hé Kǒu Guàn Shù Wā (河口灌树蛙)” as its Chinese common name.

 Lingyun Du, Yuhan Xu, Shuo Liu and Guohua Yu. 2024. A New Species of Raorchestes (Anura, Rhacophoridae) from Yunnan Province, China. ZooKeys. 1192: 213-235. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1192.106013