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| Leptobrachella darongshanensis Chen, Bei & Li, 2025 |
Abstract
A new species of the genus Leptobrachella, Leptobrachella darongshanensis sp. nov., is described from the Darongshan Nature Reserve, Yulin City, Guangxi, China, integrating molecular, morphological, and bioacoustic evidence. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) medium body size (SVL 24.9–27.7 mm in males; 32.0–35.4 mm in females); (2) dorsal skin rough with small, raised tubercles and ridges; (3) ventral surface creamy white with minute irregular textures and tiny pale brown spots laterally on the belly; (4) flanks bearing irregular black spots; (5) distinct black supratympanic line; (6) rudimentary toe webbing on toes I–IV and absence of lateral dermal fringes on toes; (7) distinct, continuous ventrolateral glandular line; (8) iris bicolored, upper half tangerine, lower half silver with black reticulations, pupil black with tangerine edges; (9) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the posterior margin of the eye when adpressed; (10) advertisement calls with dominant frequencies of 6.1–6.7 kHz at 20.0 °C. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene indicate that L. darongshanensis sp. nov. and L. shiwandashanensis are sister taxa. The new species is currently known only from montane evergreen forests at elevations between 800 and 1,200 m within the Darongshan Nature Reserve, where it is sympatric with L. yunkaiensis.
Key words: Bioacoustics, morphology, phylogeny, sympatric distribution, taxonomy
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| The holotype of Leptobrachella darongshanensis sp. nov. A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Dorsolateral view; D. Ventral view of foot; E. Ventral view of hand; F. Color pattern of eye. |
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| Variation of Leptobrachella darongshanensis sp. nov. A. NNU 001391; B. NNU 001392; C. NNU 001393; D. NNU 001394; E1. NNU 001395 (dorsal view); E2. NNU 001395 (ventral view); F. NNU 001396; G. NNU 001397. |
Leptobrachella darongshanensis sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Leptobrachella darongshanensis sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Leptobrachella based on molecular phylogenetic results and the following generic morphological characters: small size, presence of an inner metacarpal tubercle, absence of vomerine teeth, distinct tympanum, and the presence of macro-glands (pectoral and femoral glands, often including supra-axillary and ventrolateral glands). Leptobrachella darongshanensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) medium body size (SVL 24.9–27.7 mm in males; 32.0–35.4 mm in females); (2) dorsal skin rough with small, raised tubercles and ridges; (3) ventral surface creamy white with minute irregular textures and tiny pale brown spots laterally on the belly; (4) flanks bearing irregular black spots; (5) distinct black supratympanic line extending from posterior corner of eye to supra-axillary gland; (6) rudimentary toe webbing present between toes I–IV, lateral dermal fringes absent on toes; (7) ventrolateral glandular line distinct and continuous; (8) iris bicolored, upper half tangerine, lower half silver with black reticulations; pupil black with tangerine edges; (9) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the posterior margin of the eye when hindlimb is adpressed along body; (10) advertisement call dominant frequency 6.1–6.7 kHz at 20.0 °C.
Etymology. The specific epithet darongshanensis is a toponym derived from the type locality, Mt. Darongshan. The suggested English common name is Darongshan Leaf Litter Toad. The suggested Chinese common name is Da Rong Shan Zhang Tu Chan (大容山掌突蟾).
Wei-Cai Chen, Yong-Jian Bei, Peng Li. 2025. A New Species of the Genus Leptobrachella (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae) from the Darongshan Nature Reserve, Guangxi, China. ZooKeys. 1260: 171-194. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1260.161514
