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| Leptobrachella weixinensis Liu, Chen, Xu & Wu, 2025 Weixin Leaf Litter Toad | 威信掌突蟾 || DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.148507 |
Abstract
The genus Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 includes 110 species and is the most diverse genus of the family Megophryidae. The recent and rapid description of numerous new species of Leptobrachella suggests that its species diversity is underestimated. The Northeastern Hills of Yunnan, China, are located in the Wumeng Mountain region, bordering Sichuan and Guizhou provinces. Compared to the other two neighboring provinces in the Wumeng Mountain region, the diversity of Leptobrachella in the Northeastern Hills of Yunnan has attracted less attention. During herpetological surveys in 2024, three Leptobrachella specimens were collected from the Northeastern Hills of Yunnan. The molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate the presence of a separate and previously unknown lineage in the L. oshanensis complex. Morphologically, they are distinguishable from their congeners based on differences in body size, degree of webbing and fringing on the toes, ventral skin texture, and iris coloration in life. Herein, based on the integration of morphological comparisons and phylogenetic reconstruction, we describe a new species of Leptobrachella from the Northeastern Hills of Yunnan. Our discovery increases the number of Leptobrachella species recorded in China to 47 and the total number of known species in the genus to 111. Our study further confirms that species diversity in the Northeastern Hills of Yunnan is underestimated, thus highlighting the need to further strengthen fieldwork and study in the future.
Key Words: Biodiversity, frog, Leptobrachella weixinensis sp. nov., new species, Yunnan Province
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| Holotype of Leptobrachella weixinensis sp. nov. (NNU 040615) in life. A. Lateral view; B. Lateral view of head; C. Dorsal view; D. Ventral view; E. Thenar view of the right hand, and F. Plantar view of the right foot. Photos by Yun-He Wu. |
Leptobrachella weixinensis sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Leptobrachella weixinensis sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Leptobrachella morphologically by the presence of small size, presence of macroglands (supra-axillary, femoral, and ventrolateral glands), vomerine teeth absent, rounded finger tips, and presence of an elevated inner metacarpal tubercle not continuous to the thumb (e.g., Dubois 1980; Ohler et al. 2011; Rowley et al. 2013). The new species can be further distinguished from its congeners by the combination of: (1) small body size (SVL 28.2–29.7 mm in three males); (2) interorbital space wider than internarial distance; (3) upper margin of tympanum incontact with supratympanic ridge; (4) tibiotarsal articulation reaches the nostril when hindlimb is stretched along the side of the body; (5) heels overlapping; (6) toes with rudimentary webbing and narrow lateral fringes; (7) flanks with large irregular black spots; (8) iris distinctly bicolored, typically orange in upper half, silver white in lower half; (9) ventral surface of throat, chest, and belly creamy white; chest and abdomen with distinct dark patches; (10) supratympanic ridge distinct with reddish-brown pigmentation.
Etymology. The specific epithet “weixinensis” is given as a noun in apposition and refers to the name of the Weixin County in Yunnan Province, China, where the new species occurs. We suggest the English common name “Weixin Leaf Litter Toad” and the Chinese common name “威信掌突蟾” (Wēi Xìn Zhǎng Tū Chán).
Nai-Yi Liu, Lu Chen, Wei Xu and Yun-He Wu. 2025. Morphological and Molecular Evidence reveal A New Asian leaf litter toad of the Genus Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 (Anura, Megophryidae) from the northeastern hills of Yunnan, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 101(4): 1397-1408. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.148507
