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| Scutiger wolong Lyu, Gao, Huang, Wu, D. Jiang, K. Jiang & Li, 2024 |
Abstract
Comprehensive surveys on the distribution of the endangered Chinting alpine toad (Scutiger chintingensis) were recently conducted, revealing important findings regarding its population characteristics. This study integrated morphological and molecular analyses to clarify the taxonomic status of these populations. Based on detailed morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses, the population from Wolong, Wenchuan County, Sichuan, China, is identified as a new species, which is formally described herein. The new species can be distinguished from all known congeners by a unique combination of following characteristics: (1) small body size, SVL 42.2–46.9 mm in adult males, SVL 54.3–56.3 in adult females; (2) vomerine ridges and vomerine teeth absent, maxillary teeth present; (3) internasal distance and interorbital distance relatively large; (4) subarticular tubercle absent on fingers and toes; (5) dorsal and lateral skin rough with densely-distributed horny spines in males, smooth and lacking black horny spines in females; (6) vocal sac absent in males; (7) pair of pectoral glands and pair of axillary glands present on chest in males, axillary gland about two-thirds pectoral gland in size; (8) in breeding males, pectoral glands and axillary glands covered by dense spines, belly rough with horny spines, nuptial spines present on dorsal and lateral surface of first and second fingers and inner side of third finger, dense spines on inner forelimb aligned, extending from wrist to near axilla. This study highlights the critical importance of accurate taxonomic identification, particularly for endangered species, as misidentifications can misguide subsequent biological research and conservation efforts.
Keywords: conservation, diversity, phylogeny, Scutiger wolong sp. nov., taxonomy
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| Morphological features of adult male holotype CIB 121683 of Scutiger wolong sp. nov. in life. A: Dorsolateral view; B: Ventral view; C: Right hand; D: Right foot; E: Close-up of right forelimb, showing black nuptial spines on fingers, large translucent spines on lower arm and inner upper arm, and small black spines on dorsolateral upper arm; F: Close-up of ventral surface, showing pectoral glands and axillary glands covered by black dense spines, rough belly rough with black horny spines, and black dense spines on inner forelimb. Photos by Zhi-Tong Lyu. |
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| Variations in Scutiger wolong sp. nov. in life. A: Dorsolateral view of female paratype CIB 121686; B: Ventral view of female paratype CIB 121686; C: Dorsolateral view of female paratype CIB 121685; D: Dorsolateral view of male paratype CIB 121684; E: Dorsolateral view of male paratype CIB 121681; F: Dorsal view of male paratype CIB 121682. Photos by Zhi-Tong Lyu. |
Scutiger wolong sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific name wolong is used as a noun in apposition and refers to Wolong Town, the type locality of this species.
Common name: Wolong alpine toad (in English)
wò lóng chǐ tū chán (卧龙齿突蟾 in Chinese).
Zhi-Tong Lyu, Zong-Yuan Gao, Jun-Jie Huang, Di-Hao Wu, Dechun Jiang, Ke Jiang and Jia-tang Li. 2024. A New Species of Scutiger from Sichuan, China, previously misreported as S. chintingensis (Anura: Megophryidae). Asian Herpetological Research. DOI: doi.org/10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2024.0049
