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| Xenophrys tongbiguanensis Wu, Yu, Chen & Che, in Wu, Zuo, Yang, Zhang, Duan, Kilunda, Yu et Che, 2025. |
Abstract
Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve, located in the western part of China’s Yunnan Province adjoining northern Myanmar, harbors a striking diversity of species. Previous studies have indicated that herpetological diversity in this region remains underestimated. During herpetological surveys in 2024, five specimens of Xenophrys were collected from Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve. Subsequent morphological comparisons and phylogenetic reconstruction indicate the presence of a distinct and previously unknown lineage within the genus Xenophrys, which we herein describe as a new species, Xenophrys tongbiguanensis sp. nov. This discovery brings the total number of recognized species in the genus to 32, including 13 in China and five in Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve. The identification of this species further underscores the underestimated amphibian diversity of the reserve. Given its location along the China–Myanmar border, it is necessary to strengthen international cooperation in order to clarify the distribution of species within this transboundary region.
Key Words: Diversity, new species, Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve, Xenophrys, Xenophrys tongbiguanensis sp. nov.
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| Xenophrys tongbiguanensis Views of the holotype KIZ 058786 in life. A. Lateral view; B. Lateral view of head; C. Dorsal view; D. Ventral view; E. Ventral view of hand, and F. Ventral view of foot. Photos by Zhong-Bin Yu. |
Xenophrys tongbiguanensis Wu, Yu, Chen & Che, sp. nov.
Xenophrys sp., Wu et al. 2024.
Diagnosis. Xenophrys tongbiguanensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) body size medium, SVL 43.5–44.2 mm in three adult males and 54.8–57.6 mm in two adult females; (2) head length almost equal to width; (3) vomerine teeth prominent; (4) eye diameter less than twice as long as maximum tympanum diameter; (5) tympanum distinct, upper margin concealed by supratympanic fold; (6) tongue oval-shaped, slightly notched posteriorly; (7) tibio-tarsal articulation of straightened limb reaching between nostrils and tip of snout; (8) the heels slightly overlapping; (9) relative finger length: I < II < IV < III; (10) metacarpal tubercle absent; (11) toes with rudimentary webbing; (12) throat, chest, and anterior half of abdomen yellowish-brown with dense orange flecking and three longitudinal dark-brown stripes that one located in the middle of the throat and the other two located below the pectoral glands; (12) male with single internal vocal sac; and (13) nuptial pads in males absent.
Etymology. The specific epithet “tongbiguanen” is a Latinized adjective derived from the name of Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, China, where the new species occurs. We propose the English common name “Tongbiguanen horned toad” and the Chinese common name “Tóng Bì Guān Jiǎo Chán (铜壁关角蟾).”
Yun-He Wu, An-Ru Zuo, Shen-Pin Yang, Ding-Can Zhang, Zheng-Pan Duan, Felista Kasyoka Kilunda, Zhong-Bin Yu and Jing Che. 2025. Morphological and Molecular Data reveal One New Species of the Genus Xenophrys Günther, 1864 (Anura, Megophryidae) from Yunnan, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 101(4): 1409-1422. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.158027
