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| Boulenophrys dalaolingensis Wang, Chen & Liu, in Wang, L. Chen, J. Chen, Huang, G. Peng, H. Peng, Gao, B. Chen et Liu, 2025. |
Abstract
The diversity of the genus Boulenophrys, with around 72 species identified so far, is still thought to be highly underestimated, as it contains a large number of undescribed cryptic species. The favorable ecological environment of the Dalaoling National Nature Reserve, located in Yichang City, Hubei Province, is home to many characteristic species. This work describes a new species from central China, namely: Boulenophrys dalaolingensis Wang, Chen & Liu, 2025, sp. nov. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by the combination of nine external characters: (1) medium-sized body (SVL 49.9–56.2 mm in seven males, SVL 50.3–60.0 mm in three females; (2) vomerine teeth absent; (3) margin of tongue smooth, with weakly notch behind; (4) relative finger length III>II=I>IV; (5) tibio-tarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching posterior corner of the eye; and (6) toes with more than 1/4 web. Molecularly, the new species forms an independent clade with strong support in the phylogenetic trees of the genus based on two partial mitochondrial sequences: 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that it is a new species that has not been systematically described. Our work increases the number of species in the genus Boulenophrys to 73.
Key words: Boulenophrys dalaolingensis sp. nov., horned toad, Hubei Province, new species, phylogeny, taxonomy
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| Boulenophrys dalaolingensis sp. nov. in life. A, B. Holotype (NNUYC240510), male; C. Paratype, dorsolateral view (right: NNUYC240503, male; left: NNUYC240504, female); D. Paratype, ventral view (right: NNUYC240504, female; left: NNUYC240503, male); E, F. Habitat. |
Boulenophrys dalaolingensis Wang, Chen & Liu, 2025, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: (Table 2, Figs 3, 4). The new species is recognized as a member of the B. omeimontis group based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and can be distinguished from its groups by a combination of the following characters: (1) medium-sized body, SVL 49.9–56.2 mm in seven males, SVL 50.3–60.0 mm in three females; (2) head width larger than head length, or nearly equal; (3) vomerine ridge without obvious V-shaped and vomerine teeth absent; (4) supratympanic fold prominent; (5) small nodules on the back, forming a weak V-shaped ridge; two discontinuous dorsolateral parallel ridges on each side of the V-shaped ridge; (6) margin of tongue smooth, with weakly notch behind; (7) maxillary teeth developed; (8) relative finger length III>II=I>IV; (9) tibio-tarsal articulation of ...
Etymology: The specific epithet “dalaolingensis” is a Latinized adjective derived from the name of Dalaoling Nature Reserve, Hubei Province, China, which is the type locality of this species. We propose the English common name “Mt. Dalaoling Horned Toad” and the Chinese common name “Dà Lǎo Lǐng Jiǎo Chán (大老岭角蟾)”.
Ruiqi Wang, Lu Chen, Jinliang Chen, Haochen Huang, Gangzhi Peng, Honglin Peng, Xinzhang Gao, Bangqing Chen and Naiyi Liu. 2025. A new horned toad of Boulenophrys (Anura, Megophryidae) was discovered in Hubei Province, China. ZooKeys. 1253: 305-320. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1253.154757
