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| Leptobrachella duyenae Hoang, Pham, Phan, Do, Bin Wang, Jiang & Nguyen, 2025 |
Abstract
Two new species of Leptobrachella are described from Vietnam based on morphological differences and genetic divergences in 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene sequences. The new taxa are distinguished from each other and from other species of the genus Leptobrachella in body size, head width/length ratio, tympanum morphology, dorsal skin texture, the presence/absence of fringes on toes, color of dorsal and ventral body, and iris color. The two new species are also divergent from each other and from other congeners by a 4.14% or greater uncorrected genetic distance. Leptobrachella batxatensis sp. nov. is genetically closest to L. shiwandashanensis and L. wuhuangmontis from China. Leptobrachella duyenae sp. nov. is genetically closest to L. bidoupensis from Vietnam with strong nodal support from both BI and ML analyses (1.0/99%).
Keywords: 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene, Leptobrachella batxatensis sp. nov., Leptobrachella duyenae sp. nov., morphology, taxonomy
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| Variation of Leptobrachella batxatensis sp. nov. in life. Dorsolateral view of A: Paratype (IEBR A.5224), B: Paratype (IEBR A.5225), C: Paratype (IEBR A.5226), D: Paratype (IEBR A.5227), E: Paratype (IEBR A.5228); and F: Ventral view of Paratype (IEBR A.5228). |
Leptobrachella batxatensis sp. nov.
Etymology: Specific epithet is an adjective in reference to
the type locality, the Bat Xat Nature Reserve of Lao Cai
Province.
We recommend “Bat Xat Litter Frog” as the
common English name and “Cóc mày bát xát” as the
Vietnamese name.
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| Holotype of Leptobrachella duyenae sp. nov. in life (IEBR A.5229). A: Dorsolateral view; B: Ventral view; C: Left hand; D: Left food; and E: Cloacal area. Scale bars = 10 mm. Variation of Leptobrachella duyenae sp. nov. in life. A: Dorsolateral view; B: Ventral view of Paratype female (IEBR A.5233); C: Dorsolateral view; and D: Ventral view of Paratype male (IEBR A.5230). |
Leptobrachella duyenae sp. nov.
Etymolog: The species is epithet, a noun that recognizes
Mrs. Duyen Thi NGUYEN, for her understanding and strong
support of C. V. HOANG’s research. She also assisted with fieldwork and collected the holotype.
We recommend
“Duyen’s Litter Frog” as the common English name and
“Cóc mày duyên” as the Vietnamese name.
Van Chung HOANG, The Cuong PHAM, Quang Tien PHAN, Trong Dang DO, Bin WANG, Jianping JIANG and Quang Truong NGUYEN. 2025. Hidden Biodiversity in the Tropical Rain Forests: Two New Species of Leptobrachella Smith 1925 (Anura: Megophryidae) from Vietnam. Asian Herpetological Research. 16(2); 169 - 191. DOI: doi.org/10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2024.0039 [Mar 6, 2025]
