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| Scutiger lisu; Scutiger pardalotus; Scutiger ching Wang, Yu, and Che in K. Wang, Yu, Wu, Hou, D. Wang, Xiong, Ye, Duan, H. J. Li, J. Li, Jin, Yang & Che, 2025 |
Abstract
Lazy Toads of the genus Scutiger are a diverse group of alpine specialists in Asia. Despite continuous research on the taxonomy of the genus, the diversity is still underestimated. Integrating both molecular and morphometric analyses, we describe three new species of the genus Scutiger from the Gaoligong Mountain Range in Yunnan Province, China. Morphologically, these three species resemble S. gongshanensis, S. mammatus, and S. boulengeri, respetively, but they can be diagnosed from these recognized species and all other congeners by a suit of morphological characters, including the toe webbing status, numbers of pectoral glands and axillary glands with nuptial spines in breeding males, and the number of fingers covered with nuptial spines in breeding males. Additionally, they show considerable genetic divergences with respect to their morphologically similar species. We discussed the still underestimated diversity in Southwest China, the existing taxonomic problems of the genus, particularly regarding the validity and the whereabouts of type specimens of S. bangdaensis, S. biluoensis, and S. meiliensis, and we provide an updated key to all recognized species of China.
Amphibia, cryptic diversity, frog, Hengduan Mountain, southwest Yunnan, taxonomy
Scutiger lisu sp. nov. Wang, Yu, and Che
Etymology: The species name “lisu” is derived from the Chinese word 傈僳, which is the name of the main ethnic group across the range of the new species. We name the new species after the local ethnic group to honor theharmony between the local ethnic culture and nature ecosystem. The proposed Chinese name of the new species is傈僳齿突蟾 (pinyin: Li Su Chi Tu Chan), and the proposed english name is Lisu Lazy Toad.
Scutiger pardalotus sp. nov. Wang, Yu, and Che
Etymology: The species name “pardalotus” is derived from greek, which means “spotted like a leopard”. Itdescribes the beautiful spotted coloration patterns on the dorsum of the species. The proposed Chinese commonname of the new species is “豹斑齿突蟾” (pinyin: bao ban Chi Tu Chan), and the proposed english name isLeopard Lazy Toad.
Scutiger ching sp. nov. Wang, Yu, and Che
Etymology: The species name, ching, is derived from the language Trung, the language of the local ethnic minority group (Dulong) at the type locality of the new species. It means small and slender, which describes thediagnostic body shape of the new species. We chose the native language of the Dulong People to honor the harmonybetween the local ethnic culture and nature ecosystem. We suggest elf Lazy Toad as its english common name, and“山精齿突蟾” (Pinyin: Shan Jing Chi Tu Chan) as its Chinese common name.
Kai WANG, Zhongbin YU, Yunhe WU, Shao Bing HOU, De WANG, Yun XIONG, Xin Long YE, Jian Ping DUAN, Hai Jun LI, Jie LI, Jie Qiong JIN, Shen Pin YANG and Jing CHE. 2025. Three New Species of the Genus Scutiger (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from the Gaoligong Mountain Range in China, with An Updated Key to the Chinese Congeners. Zootaxa. 5725(2); 203-230. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5725.2.2 [2025-12-02]
