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| Gracixalus damingshanensis Chen & Li, 2026 Photographs by Wei-Cai Chen. |
Abstract
A new species of Gracixalus is described from central Guangxi, China. Gracixalus damingshanensis sp. nov. resembles G. jinxiuensis, G. huaping, and G. liusanjieae, but differs from all known congeners by a combination of morphological, molecular, and acoustic characters. Diagnostic characters include SVL 27.3–32.3 mm in males (n = 4) and 32.4–40.1 mm in females (n = 3); rough dorsal skin with scattered tubercles; grayish ventral surfaces with light brown spotting; fingers without webbing; white tubercles along the margins of the upper and lower jaws and on the limbs; absence of vomerine teeth; tibiotarsal articulation reaching the middle of the eye; granular skin on the throat, chest, and belly; heels not meeting when the thighs are held at right angles to the body; a distinct nuptial pad on Finger I; a single internal subgular vocal sac with paired oval openings bordered by gray rims; a golden-brown iris; and advertisement calls containing 2–5 notes. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequences recovered the new species as a distinct lineage sister to the clade comprising G. jinxiuensis and G. huaping. The species is currently known only from evergreen and bamboo forests above 900 m a.s.l. in Damingshan National Nature Reserve.
Key Words: Bioacoustics, morphology, phylogeny, shrub frogs, taxonomy
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| Holotype (NNU202103010) of Gracixalus damingshanensis sp. nov. A. Dorsal view; B. Dorsolateral view; C. Ventral view; D. Ventral view of right hand; E. Nuptial pad on Finger I; F. Ventral view of left foot. Photographs by Wei-Cai Chen. |
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| Color variation among paratypes of Gracixalus damingshanensis sp. nov. A1, A2. Dorsal and ventral views of male NNU202103008; B1, B2. Dorsal and ventral views of male NNU202103009; C1, C2. Dorsal and ventral views of male NNU202103011; D1, D2. Dorsal and ventral views of female NNU202103007. Photographs by Wei-Cai Chen. |
Gracixalus damingshanensis sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Gracixalus damingshanensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) SVL 27.3–32.3 mm in males (n = 4) and 32.4–40.1 mm in females (n = 3); (2) dorsal surface rough, with scattered tubercles; (3) throat, chest, and ventral surface grayish with light brown spotting; (4) fingers without webbing; (5) white tubercles along the margins of the upper and lower jaws and on limb surfaces; (6) vomerine teeth absent; (7) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the middle of the eye; (8) skin of throat, chest, and ...
Etymology. The specific epithet ‘damingshanensis’ refers to Damingshan National Nature Reserve in Nanning, Guangxi, China, where the species was discovered. We propose “Damingshan Tree Frog” as the English common name and “Dà Míng Shān Xiān Shù Wā“ (大明山纤树蛙) as the Chinese common name.
Wei-Cai Chen and Peng Li. 2026. A New Species of Gracixalus (Anura, Rhacophoridae) from Damingshan National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 102(4): 989-1003. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.186426
