[Herpetology • 2026] Megophrys (Viridophrys) motuoensis • A striking New Subgenus and Species of Asian horned toads (Anura: Megophryidae) from Xizang, China

Megophrys (Viridophrys) motuoensis Liu, Zhang, Chen & Yuan,
Viridophrys Liu, Zhang, Chen & Yuan, subgen. nov.

in Liu, Zhang, Wei, Ai, Lu, Li, Zhou, Chen et Yuan, 2026. 

墨脱绿角蟾  |  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.183945

Abstract

Motuo County, located in the eastern Himalayas and within the lower section of the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, is characterized by steep elevational gradients and complex topography, supporting high levels of biodiversity and endemism that remain insufficiently explored. Based on integrated evidence from morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses, a new subgenus and a new species of Asian horned toads from Motuo County, Xizang, China, are described. The new subgenus, Viridophrys subgen. nov., with its type species Megophrys (Viridophrys) motuoensis sp. nov., represents an independent evolutionary lineage within the broadly defined Megophrys, as supported by mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses. Although its exact sister-group relationship is not consistently resolved among different datasets, the new lineage is phylogenetically close to the subgenera Brachytarsophrys and Atympanophrys. Morphologically, the new subgenus can be distinguished from other major megophryine lineages by a combination of morphological characters. The discovery of Viridophrys subgen. nov. and M. (Viridophrys) motuoensis sp. nov. highlights the underestimated diversity of megophryids in the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon region and emphasizes the need for continued biodiversity surveys and conservation efforts in the eastern Himalayas.

Key Words: Himalayas, Megophrys (Viridophrys) motuoensis sp. nov., taxonomy, Viridophrys subgen. nov., Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon region

Megophryinae Bonaparte, 1850

Genus Megophrys Kuhl & van Hasselt, 1822

Subgenus Viridophrys Liu, Zhang, Chen & Yuan, subgen. nov.

 Type species. Megophrys (Viridophrys) motuoensis
Liu, Zhang, Chen & Yuan, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The subgenus Viridophrys subgen. nov. can be distinguished from other subgenera within the broadly defined Megophrys by the following diagnostic characteristics: (1) medium body size, mean SVL < 50 mm in adult females; (2) dorsal skin rough, with vivid green dorsal coloration and reddish markings, and ventral surfaces covered with irregular blotches; (3) head wider than long; (4) snout obtusely rounded and without rostral appendage; (5) maxillary teeth present; (6) vomerine teeth and vomerine ridges absent; (7) palpebral appendages absent, with minute tubercles along the outer edge of the upper eyelid; (8) temporal region short, tympanum large, distinct, close to posterior corner of eye, supratympanic fold thick and slightly curved over tympanum; (9) occipital fold absent; (10) dorsolateral fold absent; (11) presence of V-shaped parietoscapular ridge and arcuate central dorsal ridge; (12) flanks bearing scattered white-tipped tubercles, with a few tubercles occasionally present along the ventrolateral boundary; (13) lower jaw smooth, asperities absent; (14) subarticular tubercles on fingers absent; (15) webbing between toes is absent, toe fringe is lacking (Figs 4, 5).

Megophrys (Viridophrys) motuoensis sp. nov. adult female holotype SWU 0015893 in life.
A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Dorsolateral view; D. Profile of head; E. Cloacal area.

Photographs by Ren-Da Ai.

Habitat of Megophrys (Viridophrys) motuoensis sp. nov. at the type locality, Beibeng Township, Motuo County, Nyingchi City, Xizang Autonomous Region, China. A. Broadleaf and coniferous mixed forest; B. Megophrys (Viridophrys) motuoensis sp. nov. in the wild (SWU 0015893).

Habitat photograph by Wen-Zhu Lu. Species photograph by Ren-Da Ai.

Etymology. The subgeneric name Viridophrys subgen. nov. is derived from the Latin viridis, meaning green, and the Greek ophrys, meaning eyebrow, in reference to the extensive green markings on the dorsum of the new taxon. The gender of the name is feminine.

Common name. Green horned toad subgenus /
Lǜ jiǎo chán yà shǔ (绿角蟾亚属).

Megophrys (Viridophrys) motuoensis Liu, Zhang, Chen & Yuan, sp. nov.

Etymology. The name “motuoensis” originated from the type locality: Motuo County, Nyingchi City, Xizang Autonomous Region, China.

Common name. Motuo green horned toad /
Mò tuō lǜ jiǎo chán (墨脱绿角蟾).

 

Xiao-Long Liu, Yin-Peng Zhang, Ping-Fan Wei, Ren-Da Ai, Wen-Zhu Lu, Xian-Qi Li, Wei-Wei Zhou, Jin-Min Chen and Zhi-Yong Yuan. 2026. A striking New Subgenus and Species of Asian horned toads (Anura, Megophryidae, Megophryinae) from Xizang, China.  Zoosystematics and Evolution. 102(5): 1295-1313. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.183945 [21 Oct 2026]

[Herpetology • 2026] Leptobrachella quangninhensis • A New Species of Leptobrachella Smith 1925 (Anura: Megophryidae) from Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam

Leptobrachella quangninhensis 

Luong, Hoang, Pham, Ziegler & Nguyen, 2026

 

 http://rjh.folium.ru/index.php/rjh/article/view/2250 

 facebook.com/HoangChung2019

Abstract 

A new species of the genus Leptobrachella is described from Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam based on genetic divergence and morphological differences. Leptobrachella quangninhensis sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the following characters: size medium (SVL 28.1 – 28.7 mm (n = 4) in adult males and 36.0 mm in one adult female); head longer than wide; tympanum distinct; belly creamy white; toe webbing rudimentary and without lateral fringes; supratympanic fold edged by a distinct black line; iris bicolored, copper in upper part, fading to golden in lower part; interorbital region with distinct black triangle; dorsal skin smooth with fine scattered tubercles. In terms of genetic distance, the new species differs from other congeners for which comparable sequences are available by at least 6.15% (16S rRNA gene). This species description brings the total number of known species in the genus Leptobrachella from Vietnam to 38.

Keywords: Leptobrachella quangninhensis sp. nov.; morphology; molecular phylogeny; taxonomy

Leptobrachella quangninhensis sp. nov.  

Anh Mai Luong, Chung Van Hoang, Cuong The Pham, Thomas Ziegler and Truong Quang Nguyen. 2026. A New Species of Leptobrachella Smith 1925 (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. Russian Journal of Herpetology. 33(3); 197-216. [September 30, 2026] 

 http://rjh.folium.ru/index.php/rjh/article/view/2250 

 facebook.com/HoangChung2019/posts/28710851798545157

[Herpetology • 2025] Leptobrachella batxatensis & L. duyenae • Hidden Biodiversity in the Tropical Rain Forests: Two New Species of Leptobrachella Smith 1925 (Anura: Megophryidae) from Vietnam

Leptobrachella duyenae 

Hoang, Pham, Phan, Do, Bin Wang, Jiang & Nguyen, 2025 

Cóc mày duyên  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2024.0039 

 facebook.com/HoangChung2019

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

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.

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]

 facebook.com/HoangChung2019/posts/25595701346726900

[Herpetology • 2026] Scinax divae, S. galacticus & S. guapore • A Taxonomic Revision of Scinax nebulosus (Anura: Hylidae) with the Revalidation of Scinax cynocephalus and the Description of Three New Species

Scinax nebulosus (Spix, 1824) from Curionópolis municipality, Pará state, Brazil
(A-C) Scinax divae sp. nov. from Ipú municipality, Ceará state, Brazil,
(D-F) S. galacticus sp. nov. from Alter do Chão, Santarém municipality, Pará state, Brazil, 
(G-I) S. guapore sp. nov. from Cotriguaçu municipality, Mato Grosso state, Brazil 

 Ramos, Fouquet, Roberto, Perez, Ferrão, De Carvalho, Almeida, Gordo, Dantas, Chaparro, De Moura & Ávila, 2026 

DOI: doi.org/10.25225/jvb.26059 

 Abstract  

The Spix's snouted treefrog Scinax nebulosus is one of 13 recognised species in the Scinax rostratus group, distributed from the Guiana region through eastern and southwestern Amazonia to north-eastern Brazil. Previous molecular studies identified up to five evolutionary lineages, raising taxonomic uncertainties. Here, we integrate mitochondrial (16S rRNA, n = 121), morphological (n = 587), and bioacoustic (n = 335) data to test species boundaries within the S. nebulosus complex. DNA-based delimitation recovered seven operational taxonomic units (OTUs), six of which were supported by morphological and bioacoustic evidence and thus recognised as confirmed candidate species (CCS). Two OTUs correspond to the nominal species S. nebulosus and S. constrictus. The lineage from the Guiana region corresponds to Scinax cynocephalus (Hyla cynocephala), which we resurrect from synonymy with S. nebulosus. The remaining three CCS are described as new species, being one from the northern portion of north-eastern Brazil, another from the Xingu-Tapajós interfluve and the region north of the lower River Amazon, and another from southwestern Brazilian and Bolivian Amazonia. Given acoustic divergence among populations from north-eastern Brazil, we suspect the existence of additional species or introgression, which deserves further investigation using genomic data and finer-scale phenotypic examination.

KEYWORDS: cryptic diversity, Integrative taxonomy, Neotropics, Scinax rostratus group, Scinaxini

Specimens of Scinax nebulosus from Curionópolis municipality, Pará state, Brazil (L2, A-C), S. constrictus from Barra do Garças municipality, Mato Grosso state, Brazil (L3, D-F) and S. cynocephalus from Sipaliwini district, Suriname (L5, G-I) in life.

Scinax nebulosus (Spix, 1824) (L2)

Scinax constrictus (Lima et al., 2005) (L3)

Scinax cynocephalus (Duméril & Bibron, 1841) stat. rev. (L5)

Specimens of Scinax divae sp. nov. from Ipú municipality, Ceará state, Brazil (L1 E, A-C), S. galacticus sp. nov. from Alter do Chão, Santarém municipality, Pará state, Brazil (L6, D-F) and S. guapore sp. nov. from Cotriguaçu municipality, Mato Grosso state, Brazil (L7, G-I) in life.

 

Scinax divae sp. nov. (L1 East)

Etymology: The specific epithet divae is a noun in the genitive case and a matronym for the herpetologist Diva Maria Borges Nojosa, honouring her pioneering work with the herpetofauna of the brejos-de-altitude, humid highland in the state of Ceará. It also recognises her role as the director of the Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia da Universidade Federal do Ceará (NUROF-UFC), where she made significant contributions to the formation of numerous herpetologists throughout her career as a professor at the institution.

Diagnosis: The new species is characterized by: SVL 23.9-31.0 mm, x&#x0304; = 26.3 ± 1.5 in males and 28.3-40.0 mm, x&#x0304; = 35.3 ± 3.1 in females; males have a subovoid head (Ch.1.0) with a rounded (Ch.2.0) or nearly acute (Ch.2.1) snout in dorsal view, being rounded (Ch.3.0), nearly protruding (Ch.3.1) or protruding (Ch.3.2) in lateral view; females have a subovoid (Ch.1.0) or nearly rounded head (Ch.1.1) with a rounded (Ch.2.0) or nearly acute (Ch.2.1) snout in dorsal view, being nearly protruding (Ch.3.1) or protruding ...

 

Scinax galacticus sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet galacticus is formed from the Latin (galactic + Latin adjectival suffix –us), derived from the Greek ‘γάλα’, ‘γάλακτος’ (gála, gálaktos = ‘milk’), meaning ‘galaxy’ or ‘pertaining to a galaxy’. The name is treated as an adjective and refers to the pattern of blotches covering almost the entire inner surface of the thighs and the heavily speckled ventral pattern observed in some specimens, resembling a starry sky.

Diagnosis: The new species is characterized by: SVL 21.9-32.4 mm, x&#x0304; = 26.4 ± 2.3 in males and 30.8-40.7 mm, x&#x0304; = 35.9 ± 3.3 in females; males have a subovoid head (Ch.1.0) with a rounded snout in dorsal view (Ch.2.0), being rounded (Ch.3.0) or nearly protruding (Ch.3.1) in lateral view; females have a subovoid (Ch.1.0) or nearly rounded (Ch.1.1) head with a rounded snout (Ch.2.0) in dorsal view, being rounded (Ch.3.0) or nearly protruding (Ch.3.1) in lateral view; nostrils not prominent in dorsal view (Ch.4.0); pointed tubercle on the snout absent (Ch.5.0) or slight (Ch.5.1) not forming a small proboscis; conical process on the heel indistinct (Ch.12.0) or small (Ch.12.1); females with a compound pectoral fold ...

Scinax guapore sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet guapore is a noun in apposition and a toponym referring to the River Guaporé, one of the main watercourses in the region where the new species occurs. This river also marks the border between Brazil and Bolivia. The name originates from Tupi-Guarani and probably means ‘deserted valley’ or ‘river with waterfalls’.

Diagnosis: The new species is characterized by: SVL 21.3-29.2 mm, x&#x0304; = 25.8 ± 1.9 in males and 31.0-36.3 mm, x&#x0304; = 33.5 ± 2.1 in females; males with a subovoid head (Ch.1.0) with a rounded (Ch.2.0) or acute (Ch.2.1) snout in dorsal view, being protruding (Ch.3.2) or acute (Ch.3.3) in lateral view; females with a subovoid (Ch.1.0) or nearly rounded (Ch.1.1) head with a rounded (Ch.2.0) or acute (Ch.2.1) snout in dorsal view, being nearly protruding (Ch.3.1) or protruding (Ch.3.2) in lateral view; nostrils prominent in ...

 

Antônio R.L. Ramos, Antoine Fouquet, Igor J. Roberto, Renata Perez, Miquéias Ferrão, Vinícius T. De Carvalho, Alexandre P. Almeida, Marcelo Gordo, Silionamã P. Dantas, Juan C. Chaparro, Geraldo J.B. De Moura and Robson W. Ávila. 2026. A Taxonomic Revision of Scinax nebulosus (Anura: Hylidae) with the Revalidation of Scinax cynocephalus and the Description of Three New Species. Journal of Vertebrate Biology. 75 (26059), 26059.1-37. DOI: doi.org/10.25225/jvb.26059 (29 September 2026)

[Herpetology • 2026] Ololygon cataguas • A New Species of Ololygon (Anura: Hylidae) from the Zona Da Mata Region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

 

Ololygon cataguas

 Folly, Assis, Santana, Lacerda, Lourenço & Feio, 2026

 

 DOI: doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-24-00007 

 Abstract  

We describe a new species of Ololygon from the Ololygon catharinae species group. Ololygon sp. nov. is known only from the Atlantic Forest of Cataguases municipality, Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais state, southeast Brazil. The new species of treefrog is characterized by the combination of the following characters: medium size (male snout–vent length [SVL] 21.7–24.7 mm, female SVL 27.1–33.8 mm); snout rounded with mucronate tip in dorsal view; males with vocal slits present; vocal sac not expanded externally; interocular region with a w-shaped blotch not exceeding beyond the anterior margin of tympanic level; males with hypertrophied forearms; dorsal portion of the iris homogeneously pigmented; males with nuptial pads protruding; males with a developed pair of inguinal glands; in life, inguinal region and hidden surfaces of thigh with irregular dark brown spots on a white or slightly bluish background; in life, overall night coloration beige in males; call duration of 0.17–0.45 s; call composed of 4–10 notes; note duration of 3–28 ms; note emission rate of 16.8–32.5 notes per second; notes composed of 2–14 pulses; call with a dominant frequency of 2.67–4.56 kHz. We also show data about its habitat, natural history, and conservation and suggest a new diagnostic character for some species belonging to the Ololygon species.

KEYWORDS: Atlantic forest, bioacoustics, Scinaxini, taxonomy

Live topotypical specimens of Ololygon cataguas sp. nov.:
(A, B, C) males and (D) female. (E) Recently killed male.

Photos: C.L. Assis and H. Folly.

Ololygon cataguas sp. nov.

Etymology.—“Cataguas” refers to an indigenous ethnic group that lived in the forests of the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais. Furthermore, the municipality where the type series was collected is called Cataguases. The name is used here as a noun in apposition.

 

 

Henrique Folly, Clodoaldo L. Assis, Diego J. Santana, João V. A. Lacerda, Ana Carolina C. Lourenço and Renato N. Feio. 2026. A New Species of Ololygon (Anura: Hylidae) from the Zona Da Mata Region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Herpetologica. 82(1); 241-256. DOI: doi.org/10.1655/Herpetologica-D-24-00007  (30 September 2026) 

[Herpetology • 2026] Excidobates perplexus • Tiny Jewels of the Forest: A New and Endangered Species of Excidobates (Anura: Dendrobatidae) from southeastern Ecuador

Excidobates perplexus

Sánchez-Nivicela, Falcón-Reibán, Lituma, Fajardo-Torres, Urgiles, Apunte-Ramos & Ron, 2026

 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5886.2.2

 instagram.com/jaime.f.torres

Abstract

Poison dart frogs are one of the most studied and charismatic groups of amphibians, yet diversity within small and geographically restricted genera such as Excidobates remains incompletely understood. Until recently, this genus was known to comprise only three species distributed across the eastern mountain ranges of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. Here, we describe a new species represented by two populations in southern Ecuador: one from the eastern slopes of the Andes and another from north of Cordillera del Cóndor. The new species is more closely related to Excidobates mysteriosus, from which it differs by a genetic distance of 2.7–3.5% (16S rRNA gene) and markedly distinctive morphology such as 15.1–18.3 mm on snout-vent length and strongly granular skin. The two populations of the new species differ markedly in color from each other and from E. mysteriosus: scarlet red mottled dorsal coloration on a black background and a red-orange and black reticulated venter in the Central Andean Cordillera population, and green dorsal coloration with inconspicuous yellow spots and a yellow and black reticulated venter in the Cordillera del Cóndor population. Its advertisement call has 24–26 pulses, dominant frequency 4781.3–5062.5 Hz, and 0.51–0.56 s duration. The two populations are separated by 65 km, inhabit different forest types and have a genetic distance of 0.6–0.7%. Despite the marked color and habitat differences, the combined evidence indicates that the two populations represent polymorphic variants of the same species. Because the new species faces severe and imminent threats, including large and medium-scale mining, hydroelectric development, and illegal wildlife trade, we propose to assign it to the Red List category as Critically Endangered. Our findings highlight the rich but still underestimated amphibian diversity of the southeastern Ecuadorian Andes and underscore the urgent need for conservation actions in these regions.

Amphibia, Andes, conservation, Ecuador, phylogeny, taxonomy

  

 

Excidobates perplexus sp. nov. 

JUAN C. SÁNCHEZ-NIVICELA, JOSÉ M. FALCÓN-REIBÁN, MICHELLE CABRERA LITUMA, JAIME D. FAJARDO-TORRES, VERÓNICA L. URGILES, KATHERINE APUNTE-RAMOS, SANTIAGO R. RON. 2026. Tiny Jewels of the Forest: A New and Endangered Species of Excidobates (Anura: Dendrobatidae) from southeastern Ecuador.  Zootaxa. 5886(2); 193-217. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5886.2.2 [2026-10-02]

 instagram.com/jaime.f.torres/p/DeANVImH52N/

[Herpetology • 2026] Southern Philippine Forest Frogs (Anura; Ceratobatrachidae: Platymantis) confused with P. dorsalis: Validation and Resurrection of P. jagorii (Peters, 1863) and P. laticeps (Taylor, 1920), and Description of A New Species: Platymantis habagatan

 

Platymantis jagorii (Peters, 1863);   P. laticeps (Taylor, 1920); 

Platymantis (Lahatnanguri) habagatan

Pitogo, Hoskins, Tesfazion, Meneses, Cannon, Supsup, Decena, Sanguila & Brown, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5884.2.3  

  facebook.com/KierPitogo14

 

Abstract

Terrestrial ground frogs of the genus Platymantis exhibit conserved external morphology, resulting in long-standing taxonomic uncertainty concerning the identity of purportedly widespread populations. One such case involves the broad application of the name Platymantis dorsalis (Duméril, 1853) (subgenus Lupacolus; a northern and central Philippine species) to terrestrial ground frogs in the archipelago’s southern Mindanao biogeographic region. In the southern Philippines, earlier names historically applied to Mindanao faunal region populations were later placed in synonymy with P. dorsalis. Here, we re-evaluate the taxonomic status of terrestrial Platymantis populations from the Mindanao biogeographic region, incorporating phylogenetic, morphological, and acoustic data derived from three decades of field-based natural history observations and specimen collections. Our analyses demonstrate that southern populations presently referred to P. dorsalis in the southern Philippines form three distinct evolutionary lineages, are quite distantly related to P. dorsalis (subgenus Lupacolus), and two of which actually fall into a different subgenus (Lahatnanguri). These lineages exhibit pronounced morphological disparity and acoustic divergence from one another (and, unsurprisingly, from P. dorsalis), supporting their recognition as distinct species. Based on accompanying morphological, molecular, and bioacoustic data presented here, we therefore resurrect P. (Lahatnanguri) jagorii (Peters, 1863) and P. (Lupacolus) laticeps (Taylor, 1920) from the synonymy of P. dorsalis and describe a new cryptic species, Platymantis (Lahatnanguri) habagatan sp. nov. This taxonomic clarification resolves a prolonged misapplication of the name P. dorsalis to populations on Mindanao, Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Biliran, Basilan, Camiguin Sur, Dinagat, and Siargao islands and provides a long-overdue framework for future systematics and conservation assessments of Philippine terrestrial ground frogs, particularly those from the southern portions of the archipelago.

Amphibia, Mindanao, amphibians, taxonomy, Lahatnanguri, Lupacolus, Platymantis dorsalis, adaptive radiation

P. (Lahatnanguri) jagorii (Peters, 1863) 

P. (Lupacolus) laticeps (Taylor, 1920)

Platymantis (Lahatnanguri) habagatan sp. nov. 

KIER MITCHEL E. PITOGO, KREW HOSKINS, FABEN HANA TESFAZION, CAMILA G. MENESES, HAYDEN W. CANNON, CHRISTIAN E. SUPSUP, SYRUS CESAR P. DECENA, MARITES B. SANGUILA and RAFE M. BROWN. 2026. Southern Philippine Forest Frogs (Anura; Ceratobatrachidae: Platymantis) confused with P. dorsalis: Validation and Resurrection of P. jagorii (Peters, 1863) and P. laticeps (Taylor, 1920), and  Description of A New Species. Zootaxa. 5884(2); 271-300. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5884.2.3 [2026-09-28]

  facebook.com/KierPitogo14/posts/29137023565890106

 x.com/kieralreefs/status/2104365976540315669

   

[Herpetology • 2026] Niceforonia florezarum • A New Species of Niceforonia (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the Colombian Massif, southwestern Colombia

Niceforonia florezarum

Pisso-Florez, Cardona-Giraldo, Ramírez-Chaves, Liévano-Bonilla, Mazepa & Mulder, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5881.3.1  

  facebook.com/IZBDLab

Abstract

The genus Niceforonia currently includes 17 species of small, terrestrial, direct-developing frogs distributed from Colombia to northern Peru. In Colombia, 11 species of Niceforonia have been reported, with five of these restricted to high Andean ecosystems, including Páramos. Field surveys conducted between 2017 and 2023, in the Páramo ecosystems of the Puracé National Park and its buffer zone, in southwestern Colombia, revealed a previously unidentified species of Niceforonia. Through an integration of phylogenetic, ecological, bioacoustic, and morphological analyses, we identified unique traits that support the recognition of this population as a new species of Niceforonia, restricted to Páramo and Subpáramo habitats over 3300 m in the Colombian Massif. The new species is sister to Niceforonia brunnea, which occurs 195 kilometers further south in the Department of Nariño of southwestern Colombia and northern Ecuador. With the discovery of this new species, Colombia now hosts 12 species of Niceforonia, six of which inhabit Páramo ecosystems. Our study expands the taxonomic knowledge of the genus and underscores the importance of further exploration in high-Andean ecosystems of southwestern Colombia, where biodiversity remains underexplored.

Amphibia, amphibians, Andes, Páramo, Puracé National Park, Terrarana

Niceforonia florezarum

 

Gustavo Adolfo PISSO-FLOREZ, Alexandra CARDONA-GIRALDO, Héctor E. RAMÍREZ-CHAVES, Andrés Felipe LIÉVANO-BONILLA, Glib O. MAZEPA and Kevin P. MULDER. 2026. A New Species of Niceforonia (Anura: Craugastoridae) from the Colombian Massif, southwestern Colombia.  Zootaxa. 5881(3); 301-326. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5881.3.1  [2026-09-22] 

 facebook.com/IZBDLab/posts/1853143722328113

 

[Herpetology • 2026] Ingerana aizawl • Leaping from a University Campus to the Scientific Records: A New Species of Ingerana Dubois, 1987 (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Mizoram, India

Ingerana aizawl

Lalremsanga, Bharali, Dawngliana, Hlychho, Malsawmtluanga, Bhattacharjee, Hazarika, Das & Purkayastha, 2026

 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5878.2.3

 

Abstract

Populations of Ingerana Dubois (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Mizoram, northeastern India, have historically been assigned to Ingerana borealis (Annandale), however recent taxonomic reassessment questioned their identity. We evaluated these populations using an integrative approach combining external morphology and mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequence data. Phylogenetic analyses recovered the Mizoram population as a distinct lineage within Ingerana, while morphological comparisons revealed multiple diagnostic differences from recognised congeners. Based on these data, we recognise the Mizoram population as a distinct species. It differs from I. borealis, I. occidens, and I. tenasserimensis by a unique combination of body size, tympanic morphology, dorsal skin texture, and proportional morphometric characters. Our findings resolve the taxonomic identity of Ingerana populations from Mizoram and suggest that species diversity within the genus in northeastern India remains underestimated.

Amphibia, 16S rRNA, Aizawl, new species, northeastern India

Ingerana aizawl

HMAR TLAWMTE LALREMSANGA, MANMATH BHARALI, MALSAWM DAWNGLIANA, MARA DUASA HLYCHHO, MALSAWMTLUANGA, RUPANKAR BHATTACHARJEE, ARUP KUMAR HAZARIKA, NILUTPAL DAS and JAYADITYA PURKAYASTHA. 2026. Leaping from a University Campus to the Scientific Records: A New Species of Ingerana Dubois, 1987 (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Mizoram, India.  Zootaxa. 5878(2); 224-236. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5878.2.3 [2026-09-14]

[Herpetology • 2026] Boulenophrys tianlinensis • A New Species of the Genus Boulenophrys (Anura: Megophryidae) from western Guangxi, China

Boulenophrys tianlinensis 

Liu, Cheng, Shen, Feng, Mu, Zhou, Wei & Li, 2026

 

DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.193995

Abstract

During an amphibian biodiversity survey conducted in Tianlin County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, a new species belonging to the genus Boulenophrys was identified and described as Boulenophrys tianlinensis sp. nov. This new species shares the closest genetic affinity with B. anlongensis (Li, Lu, Liu & Wang, 2020). Integrative taxonomic analyses, combining morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic data, confirm its status as a distinct species. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characteristics: (1) medium body size, with snout-vent length (SVL) 34.3–39.0 mm in seven adult males and 47.1 mm in a single adult female specimen; (2) upper eyelid margin bearing one small horn-shaped tubercle on each side; (3) vomerine ridges present and vomerine teeth absent; (4) tongue not notched posterior; (5) tympanum rounded and clearly discernible; (6) toes with rudimentary webbing and lacking lateral fringes; (7) heels overlapping when thighs are held perpendicular to the body axis; (8) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the middle of the eye when the leg is stretched forwards; (9) males possessing a single subgular vocal sac; and (10) in breeding males, the nuptial pads have dark brown nuptial spines on the bases of the first and second fingers.

Key Words: Boulenophrys tianlinensis sp. nov., morphology, new species, phylogeny, taxonomy

Male holotype MT TL20230603004 of Boulenophrys tianlinensis sp. nov. in life.
A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Dorsal view of hand; D. Ventral view of hand; E. Ventral view of foot.
Male holotype CIB AL20190531018 of B. anlongensis in life; F. Dorsal view; G. Ventral view; H. Dorsal view of hand; I. Ventral view of hand; J. Ventral view of foot.

photos by Shize Li.

Colour variation in Boulenophrys tianlinensis sp. nov. in life: 

Dorsolateral and ventral view of adult;

[A] male MT TL20230603001; [B] male MT TL20230603003;
[C] male MT TL20230603005; [D] female MT TL20230603002.

photos by Shize Li.

Boulenophrys tianlinensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

Boulenophrys tianlinensis sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Boulenophrys, based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and the following generic diagnostic characters: head not enlarged and depressed; snout shield-like, projecting beyond the lower jaw; canthus rostralis distinct; vomerine ridges present and vomerine teeth absent; temporal region short; transverse fold behind head absent; both sides of belly without seriate tubercles; chest glands small and round, closer to the axilla than to mid-ventral line; femoral glands on rear part of thigh; vertical pupils; and the presence of subarticular tubercles at the base of each finger; nuptial spines are present on the dorsal bases of fingers I and II in breeding males (Fei et al. 2016; Lyu et al. 2023).

Boulenophrys tianlinensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) medium body size, with SVL 34.3–39.0 mm in seven adult males and 47.1 mm in a single adult female specimen; (2) upper eyelid margin bearing one small horn-shaped tubercle on each side; (3) vomerine ridges present and vomerine teeth absent; (4) tongue not notched posterior; (5) tympanum rounded and clearly discernible; (6) toes with rudimentary webbing and lacking lateral fringes; (7) heels overlapping when thighs are held perpendicular to the body axis; (8) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the middle of the eye when the leg stretched forwards; (9) males possessing a single subgular vocal sac; and (10) in breeding males, the nuptial pads have dark brown nuptial spines on the bases of the first and second fingers.

 Jing Liu, Yanlin Cheng, Tuo Shen, Chaobo Feng, Lang Mu, Junjian Zhou, Gang Wei and Shize Li. 2026. A New Species of the Genus Boulenophrys (Anura, Megophryidae) from western Guangxi, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 102(5): 1139-1157. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.193995 [15 Sep 2026]

[Herpetology • 2020] Boulenophrys anlongensis • A New Species of Boulenophrys (Anura: Megophryidae) from Guizhou Province, China

 Boulenophrys anlongensis (Li, Lu, Liu & Wang, 2020)

Megophrys anlongensis Li, Lu, Liu & Wang, 2020

安龙角蟾  | DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.986.57119

Abstract

A new species of the genus Megophrys is described from Guizhou Province, China. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial DNA indicated the new species as a clade clustered into the Megophrys clade. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: body size moderate (SVL 40.0–45.5 mm in males and 48.9–51.2 mm in females); vomerine teeth absent; tongue not notched behind; tympanum distinctly visible, oval; a small horn-like tubercle at the edge of each upper eyelid; two metacarpal tubercles in hand; toes with rudimentary webbing; heels overlapping when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; tibiotarsal articulation reaching the level of mid-eye when leg stretched forward; in breeding males, an internal single subgular vocal sac present and brownish nuptial pads, made up of black nuptial spines, present on the dorsal base of the first two fingers.

Keywords: Molecular phylogenetic analysis, morphology, new species, taxonomy

Photographs of the holotype CIBAL20190531018 of Megophrys anlongensis sp. nov. in life
A dorsal view B ventral view C dorsal view of hand D ventral view of hand. E ventral view of foot.

Colour variation in Megophrys anlongensis sp. nov. 
  male CIBAL20190531017: A dorsolateral view, B ventral view; 
 female CIBAL20190531022: C dorsolateral view, D ventral view;  
female CIBAL20190811014: E dorsolateral view, F ventral view. 

Megophrys anlongensis sp. nov.

  

Diagnosis: 

Megophrys anlongensis sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Megophrys based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and the following generic diagnostic characters: snout shield-like, projecting beyond the lower jaw; canthus rostralis distinct; chest glands small and round, closer to the axilla than to midventral line; femoral glands on rear part of thigh; vertical pupils.

Megophrys anlongensis sp. nov. could be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) body size moderate (SVL 40.0–45.5 mm in males and 48.9–51.2 mm in females); (2) vomerine teeth absent; (3) tongue not notched behind; (4) a small horn-like tubercle at the edge of each upper eyelid; (5) tympanum distinctly visible, oval; (6) two metacarpal tubercles on hand; (7) toes with rudimentary ...

Etymology: The specific name anlongensis refers to the known distribution of this species, Anlong County, Guizhou Province, China. We propose the common English name “Anlong horned toad”, and Chinese name “An Long Jiao Chan” (安龙角蟾).

 Shi-Ze Li, Ning-Ning Lu, Jing Liu and Bin Wang. 2020. Description of A New Megophrys Kuhl & Van Hasselt, 1822 (Anura, Megophryidae) from Guizhou Province, China. ZooKeys. 986: 101-126. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.986.57119 [Nov 2020]