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| Oreolalax wumengmontis X. Li, Z. Li, Jiahan, Liu, Y. Zhang, P. Li, W. Zhang, F. Li, Huang, X. Li & Yuan. 2026 |
Abstract
Based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological features, a new species of the genus Oreolalax Myers & Leviton, 1962 (Anura: Megophryidae) is described from Yunnan Province, China. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI gene sequences indicate that the new species forms an independent clade closely related to Oreolalax omeimontis. The genetic distance between these two taxa was 11.25% based on 16S gene, and 17.61% based on COI. The new species can be distinguished from all other congeneric species by a combination of the following characteristics: (1) moderate body size (SVL of male 49.5–53.0 mm, n=2; female 46.6 mm, n=1); (2) tympanums hidden or slightly visible; (3) absence of vocal sac; (4) rudimentary interdigital toe webbing; (5) narrow lateral fringes; (6) tibiotarsal articulation reaching between the eye and nostril when leg stretched; (7) heel only contact when limbs held at right angles to body; (8) femoral glands large and distinct; (9) abdomen with distinct cloudy spots; (10) male dorsum covered in large and small tubercles, and (11) a dark triangular marking between the eyes.
Keywords: new species, taxonomy, Wumeng Mountain, molecular phylogenetic analyses
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| The adult male holotype of Oreolalax wumengmontis sp. nov. (SWU 0005760) in life: (A) Dorsal view, (B) ventral view, (C) side view, (D) cloacal area, (E) dorsal and ventral view of left hand, and (F) ventral and dorsal of right foot. Photos by Xianqi Li. |
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| Habitats of Oreolalax wumengmontis sp. nov. in the Wumeng Mountain National Nature Reserve. (A) landscape of subtropical evergreen broadleaved forests habitat, (B) breeding habitat, (C) O. wumengmontis sp. nov. in the wild SWU 0007062, (D) egg clusters adhere to the bottom of the rock. Photos by Xiaolong Liu (A, C) and Zengxin Li (B, D). |
Oreolalax wumengmontis sp. nov.
Xianqi Li, Zengxin Li, Bizula Jiahan, Xiaolong Liu, Yinpeng Zhang, Pengying Li, Wei Zhang, Feiqiao Li, Junkai Huang, Xu Li and Zhiyong Yuan. 2026. A New Species of Oreolalax Myers & Leviton, 1962 (Anura, Megophryidae) from Northeast Yunnan, China. Asian Herpetological Research. DOI: doi.org/10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2026.0014 [Mar 18, 2026]
