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| Boulenophrys dupanglingensis Xiao & Mo, in Xiao, Xi, Shi, Li, Zhu, Maimaiti, Xu, Liao, Wang et Mo, 2025. Dupangling Horned Toad | 都庞岭角蟾 || DOI: doi.org/10.3390/ani15030440 |
Abstract
A new species of Asian horned toad, Boulenophrys, is described from Yongzhou City, Hunan Province, China. The species is a phylogenetically sister to B. yunkaiensis, based on 16S rRNA and COI genes. The new species differs from its congeners, possessing the following combination of characters: (1) moderate body size: SVL 37.6–40.2 mm (38.9 ± 1.3, n = 7) in adult males and SVL 41.8–45.9 mm (43.6 ± 2.1, n = 3) in adult females; (2) tympanum boundary clear: TD/ED 0.48–0.57 in males and 0.47–0.57 in females; (3) the presence of a small horn-like tubercle at the edge of the upper eyelid; (4) vomerine ridge present and vomerine teeth absent; (5) margin of tongue rounded, not notched posteriorly; (6) rough dorsal skin: a discontinuous “V”-shaped ridge with two discontinuous dorsolateral ridges on two sides on the back, dense tubercles on the skin of the ventral surface of the dorsal shank and thigh, and spiny tubercles surrounding the cloaca; (7) slender hindlimbs with heels overlapping when the flexed hindlimbs are held at right angles to the body axis; tibio-tarsal articulation reaching forward between anterior margin of tympanum and posterior corner of eye when leg stretched forward; (8) relative finger length IV < II < I < III, with a subarticular tubercle present at the base of each finger; (9) distinct supernumerary tubercles below the base of I and II toes; (10) toes without lateral fringes and with rudimentary webbing (webbing formula: I1 − 1-II1 − 2-III2 − 3IV3- − 2V).
Keywords: Asian horned toads; taxonomy; Hunan Province; Boulenophrys dupanglingensis sp. nov.
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| Holotype of Boulenophrys dupanglingensis (HUNU 22SA01) in life: (A) lateral view; (B) ventral view; (C) dorsal view; (D) volar view of left hand; (E) plantar view of left foot. Photo by Jia-Yan Xi. |
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| Paratypes of Boulenophrys dupanglingensis sp. nov. in life. Male paratype (HUNU 22SA003): (A, C, E); female paratype (HUNU 22SA009): (B, D, F). Photos by Jia-Yan Xi. |
Boulenophrys dupanglingensis Xiao & Mo, sp. nov.
Dupangling Horned Toad (in English)
(都庞岭角蟾 in Chinese)
Diagnosis: (1) moderate body size: SVL 37.6–40.2 mm (38.9 ± 1.3, n = 7) in adult males and SVL 41.8–45.9 mm (43.6 ± 2.1, n = 3) in adult females; (2) tympanum boundary clear: TD/ED 0.48–0.57 in males, 0.47–0.57 in females; (3) presence of small horn-like tubercle at the edge of the upper eyelid; (4) vomerine ridge present; vomerine teeth absent; (5) margin of tongue rounded, not notched posteriorly; (6) rough dorsal skin: a discontinuous “V”-shaped ridge with two discontinuous dorsolateral ridges on two sides on the back, dense tubercles on the skin of the ventral surface of the dorsal shank and thigh, and spiny tubercles surrounding the cloaca; (7) slender hindlimbs with heels overlapping when the flexed hindlimbs are held at right angles to the body axis; tibio-tarsal articulation reaching forward between anterior margin of tympanum and posterior corner of the eye when leg stretched forward; (8) relative finger length IV < II < I < III, with a subarticular tubercle present at the base of each finger; (9) distinct supernumerary tubercles below the base of toes I and II; (10) toes without lateral fringes and with only rudimentary webbing (webbing formula: I1 − 1-II1 − 2-III2 − 3IV3- − 2V) (Figure 6 and Figure 7A).
Etymology: The specific epithet dupanglingensis refers to the type locality of the new species, Dupangling National Nature Reserve, Hunan Province, China. Dupangling Horned Toad is suggested as common name. 都庞岭角蟾 (dū pánɡ lǐnɡ jiǎo chán) is suggested as Chinese name.
Bei Xiao, Jiayan Xi, Shengchao Shi, Hui Li, Leqiang Zhu, Ayinuer Maimaiti, Yalan Xu, Shunhua Liao, Bin Wang and Xiaoyang Mo. 2025. A New Species of the Genus Boulenophrys (Anura, Megophryidae) from southern Hunan Province, Central China. Animals. 15(3); 440. DOI: doi.org/10.3390/ani15030440
Simple Summary: The genus Boulenophrys Fei, Ye & Jiang, 2016, consists of 69 recognized species and is known for its endemism and diversity. This study describes a new species from Yongzhou City, Southern Hunan Province, Central China: Boulenophrys dupanglingensis sp. nov. The species presents a monophyletic lineage that differs from its sister species B. yunkaiensis, possessing relatively shorter shanks, distinct supernumerary tubercles below the base of the I and II toes, rough dorsal skin with dense granules, and several tubercles on the flanks.
