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| Leptobrachella jinzhongshanensis Chen, Su, Yang & Pan, 2026 |
Abstract
Integrative morphological and molecular evidence supports the recognition of Leptobrachella jinzhongshanensis sp. nov. from Longlin County, Guangxi, China. The new species is distinguished by a combination of characters, including medium body size (snout-vent length 30.4–32.5 mm in males and 40.3–42.8 mm in females), narrow lateral fringes on the toes, absence of toe webbing, continuous dermal ridges beneath the toes, heels that do not meet when the thighs are held at right angles to the body axis, irregular black flank spots, a bicoloured iris and interwoven creamy-white and light-grey markings on the venter. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequences recovered the Jinzhongshan specimens as a strongly supported lineage sister to L. dorsospina, from which they differed by an uncorrected p-distance of 1.4%. Leptobrachella jinzhongshanensis sp. nov. is currently known only from montane evergreen broadleaf forest at 1,700–1,800 m elevation. Within the Reserve, L. ventripunctata was recorded along streams below 1,000 m, indicating ecological and elevational separation between the two species.
Key Words: Integrative taxonomy, leaf-litter frog, morphology, phylogeny
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| Leptobrachella jinzhongshanensis sp. nov. A–F. Holotype (NNU 001478): A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C, D. Dorsolateral views; E. Ventral view of hand; F. Ventral view of foot. G, H. Paratype NNU 001479: G. Dorsal view; H. Ventral view. photographs by Wei-Cai Chen. |
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| Variation in Leptobrachella jinzhongshanensis sp. nov. A1, A2. NNU 001323; B1, B2. NNU 001324; C1, C2. NNU 001480; D1, D2. NNU 001481; E1, E2. NNU 001482; F1, F2. NNU 001483; G1, G2 NNU 001484; H1, H2 NNU 001485. photographs by Wei-Cai Chen. |
Leptobrachella jinzhongshanensis sp. nov.
Etymology. The specific epithet jinzhongshanensis refers to the type locality, Mt Jinzhongshan. We propose “Jinzhongshan Leaf-litter Frog” as the English common name and Jīn Zhōng Shān Zhǎng Tū Chán (金钟山掌突蟾) as the Chinese common name.
Diagnosis. Leptobrachella jinzhongshanensis sp. nov. is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) medium body size (SVL 30.4–32.5 mm in males and 40.3–42.8 mm in females); (2) narrow lateral fringes on the toes; (3) absence of toe webbing; (4) continuous dermal ridges beneath the toes; (5) relative finger lengths IV < II ≈ I < III; (6) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the posterior corner of the eye; (7) heels not meeting when the thighs are held at right angles to the body axis; (8) irregular black spots on the flanks; (9) iris copper above and silver below; and (10) interwoven creamy-white and light-grey markings on the venter.
Wei-Cai Chen, Tong-Ping Su, Hai-Ju Yang and Mei-Ye Pan. 2026. A New Species of Leptobrachella (Anura, Megophryidae) from Jinzhongshan National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 102(4): 1089-1105. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.195575 [27 Aug 2026]