[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 

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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 

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[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 

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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]

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[Herpetology • 2026] Amolops minhlei • A New Species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from Vu Quang National Park—An ASEAN Heritage Park of Vietnam

  

Amolops minhlei

A.V. Pham, C. V. Hoang, T. Q. Nguyen, V. T. H. Nguyen, T. T. T. Nguyen, K. D. Nguyen, Thai, N. V. Hoang & C. T. Pham, 2026 

 

 DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5760.2.4  

 facebook.com/PhamAnhdhsphn 

Abstract 

A new species of Amolops is described from Vu Quang National Park, Ha Tinh Province, North-central Vietnam based on morphological and molecular differences. Morphologically, Amolops minhlei sp. nov. is distinguishable from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: SVL 31.8–35.8 mm in males, 36.7–45.8 mm in females; head longer than wide; vomerine teeth absent; snout long (SE/SVL 0.16–0.17 in males, 0.16 in females); tympanum distinct, round (TD/ED 0.41–0.42 in males, 0.40–0.43 in females); skin smooth; supratympanic fold indistinct; dorsolateral fold present; webbing formula I0–0II0–1/2III0–1/2IV1/2–0V; dorsum olive green or reddish brown with a few dark spots; a brown dorsolateral stripe extending from behind eye to above vent; dorsal surface of fore- and hind-limbs light grey with brown crossbars, throat, chest and belly white; males with external vocal sac and nuptial pad on finger I; and flanks grey brown with small white glandular spot. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species is strongly supported as a member of the A. monticola group. However, the new species differs from other members of the A. monticola group by 10.00–19.66% pairwise genetic divergence in the mitochondrial ND2 gene fragment and 1.56–6.67% in the mitochondrial 16S gene fragment.

Amphibia, 16S rRNA, Amolops monticola group, Ha Tinh Province, molecular phylogeny, ND2, taxonomy

Amolops minhlei sp. nov.

Ếch bám đá minh

ANH VAN PHAM, CHUNG VAN HOANG, TRUONG QUANG NGUYEN, VAN THI HONG NGUYEN, THUY THU THI NGUYEN, KY DANH NGUYEN, TOAN CANH THAI, NGOC VAN HOANG and CUONG THE PHAM. 2026. A New Species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from Vu Quang National Park—An ASEAN Heritage Park of Vietnam.  Zootaxa. 5760(2); 225-247. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5760.2.4 [2026-02-23]

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[Herpetology • 2026] Scincella vuquangensis • A New skink of the Genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam

 

Scincella vuquangensis 

Pham, A. M. H. Nguyen, Le, T. Q. Nguyen, H. V. Nguyen, Hoang, V. T. H. Nguyen, 2026

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5787.1.7

facebook.com: PHAM Anh

 

Abstract

A new species of the genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 is described from Vietnam based on morphological differences and molecular divergence. Scincella vuquangensis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by body size; number of primary temporals; the presence of external ear opening and the absence of lobules on anterior margin; head scalation (loreals, supralabials, infralabials, nuchals); number of midbody scale rows; number of smooth scales across the back; number and size of paravertebral; number of ventral scale rows; number of lamellae beneath finger IV and toe IV; length of toe finger; and color pattern. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species is recovered as a sister taxon to S. rufocaudata. The new species is separated from S. rufocaudata by 9.37–9.64% in pairwise genetic distance, based on a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene.

Reptilia, Scincella vuquangensis sp. nov., CoI, molecular phylogeny, morphology, taxonomy 

Scincella vuquangensis sp. nov.

Anh Van PHAM, Anh Minh Hoang NGUYEN, Minh Duc LE, Truong Quang NGUYEN, Hung Viet NGUYEN, Ngoc Van HOANG and  Van Thi Hong NGUYEN. 2026. A New skink of the Genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam.  Zootaxa. 5787(1); 143-169. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5787.1.7 [2026-04-02]

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[Herpetology • 2026] Leptobrachella deocaensis • A New Species of Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 (Anura: Megophryidae) from the coastal forest of Dak Lak Province, Vietnam

Leptobrachella deocaensis 

 Do, Nguyen, Hoang, Ziegler & Pham, 2026

Cóc mày đèo cả  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1267.177118 

Abstract

A new species of Leptobrachella is described from the coastal forest of Deo Ca Mountain in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam, based on morphological differences and genetic divergences in 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene sequences. The new species is distinguished from other species of the genus Leptobrachella by body size, dorsal skin texture, absence of ventrolateral and femoral glands, absence of lateral fringes on fingers and toes, color pattern of head and body, and iris color. The new species is divergent from other congeners by at least 6.34% uncorrected genetic distance (16S rRNA gene). Leptobrachella deocaensis sp. nov. is genetically closest to L. macrops from Vietnam, with strong nodal support from both BI and ML analyses (1.00/98).

Key words: Asian Leaf-litter toads, Deo Ca Mountain, genetic divergence, Leptobrachella deocaensis sp. nov., morphology, taxonomy

Holotype of Leptobrachella deocaensis sp. nov. in life (IB A.6440, male).
A. Dorsolateral view; B. Ventral view; C. Underside of right foot; D. Underside of left hand; E. Cloacal and hamstrings area. Scale bars: 5 mm (C, D).

Female paratypes of Leptobrachella deocaensis sp. nov. in life in dorsolateral view.
 A. IB A.6441; B. IB A.6443.

Leptobrachella deocaensis sp. nov.

 Dang Trong Do, Truong Quang Nguyen, Chung Van Hoang, Thomas Ziegler and Cuong The Pham. 2026. A New Species of Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 (Anura, Megophryidae) from the coastal forest of Dak Lak Province, Vietnam. ZooKeys. 1267: 15-30. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1267.177118 

[20 Jan 2026]

[Herpetology • 2025] Scincella truongi • A New skink of the Genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Son La Province, northwestern Vietnam

 Scincella truongi   

A. V. Pham, Ziegler, C. T. Pham, Hoang, Ngo & Le, 2025

Truong’s Smooth Skink | Thằn lằn cổ trường  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1226.139655

Abstract

A new species of the genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 is described from northern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidence. Scincella truongi sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the following characters: size medium (SVL up to 59.4 mm); primary temporals 2; external ear opening without lobules; loreals two; supralabials seven or eight; infralabials six or seven; nuchals in three pairs; midbody scales in 28 rows; dorsal scales smooth, in six rows across the back; paravertebral scales 60–67, not widened; ventral scales in 60–70 rows; ten smooth lamellae beneath finger IV and 13–15 beneath toe IV; toes not reaching to fingers when limbs adpressed along body; dorsal surface of body and tail bronze brown with few black spots, a dark stripe running from nostril to eye and extending from posterior corner of eye along upper part of flank to the middle of the tail. In the phylogenetic analyses, the new species is recovered as an independent lineage with no clear sister taxon and at least 17.3% genetic divergence from other species in the genus based on a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene.

Key words: COI, molecular phylogeny, morphology, Scincella truongi sp. nov., Sop Cop Nature Reserve, taxonomy

 Holotype of Scincella truongi sp. nov. (IEBR R.6329) in life, adult male.
 A dorsal view B ventral view.

Photographs: Anh Van Pham.

 Scincella truongi sp. nov.
Paratype (HUS.2024.01) in life, adult female.
Paratype (HUS.2024.03) in life, adult female.

Photographs: Anh Van Pham.

 Scincella truongi sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from other species of Scincella by a combination of the following characteristics: size medium (SVL up to 594 mm); primary temporals two; external ear opening without lobules; loreals two; supralabials seven or eight; infralabials six or seven; nuchals in three pairs; midbody scales in 28 rows; dorsal scales smooth, in six rows across the back; paravertebral scales 60–67, not widened; ventral scales in 60–70 rows; ten smooth lamellae beneath finger IV and 13–15 beneath toe IV; toes not reaching to fingers when limbs adpressed along body; dorsal surface of body and tail bronze brown with few black spots, a dark stripe running from nostril to eye and extending from posterior corner of eye along upper part of flank to the middle of the tail.

Etymology. We name the new species in honor of Prof. Dr. Truong Quang Nguyen from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, in recognition of his great contributions to the herpetofaunal exploration of the Indochina region. 

We recommend “Truong’s Smooth Skink” as the common English name and “Thằn lằn cổ trường” as the common name in Vietnamese for the new species.

Anh Van Pham, Thomas Ziegler, Cuong The Pham, Thao Ngoc Hoang, Hanh Thi Ngo and Minh Duc Le. 2025. A New skink of the Genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata, Scincidae) from Son La Province, northwestern Vietnam. ZooKeys. 1226: 319-337. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1226.139655

 

[Herpetology • 2024] Scincella fansipanensis • A New Species of the Genus Scincella (Squamata: Scincidae) from Mount Fansipan, Hoang Lien Son Range, northwestern Vietnam

 

Scincella fansipanensis 

Okabe, Motokawa, Koizumi, T. Q. Nguyen, T. T. Nguyen & Bui, 2024. 

 

 Fansipan ground skink | Thằn lằn cổ fansipan  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5537.3.7 

 

Abstract

We describe a new species of the genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 from northwestern Vietnam, based on a new collection of ground skinks from Mount Fansipan of the Hoang Lien Son Range in Lao Cai Province. Scincella fansipanensis sp. nov. is distinguished from other Scincella species in the Indochina region and southern China by body size (SVL), separation of prefrontals, number of midbody scale rows, paravertebral scale rows, nuchals and subdigital lamellae on toe IV, separation of toe from finger when limbs are adpressed along the body, and dorsal color pattern. The new species is further distinguished from its congeners by uncorrected genetic distances of 14.60–21.41% (COI gene). The new species is currently known only from high elevation areas of Mt. Fansipan in Vietnam. 

Reptilia, Ground skink, genetic divergence, morphological characteristics, taxonomy, Lao Cai Province

 

Dorsolateral (A) and ventral (B) views of Scincella fansipanensis sp. nov. (holotype, IEBR R.5188).

Map showing Mt. Fansipan (red circle), Hoang Lien Son Range, Vietnam (A), habitat at the type locality of Scincella fansipanensis sp. nov. (B), and an individual in life (IEBR R.5188) (C). 

  Scincella fansipanensis sp. nov. 

Diagnosis. Scincella fansipanensis sp. nov. is distinguished from other congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: size medium (SVL up to 59.0 mm; AG up to 36.5 mm); 22 (rarely 24) midbody scale rows, smooth; 60–68 paravertebral scale rows; 58–64 ventral scale rows; prefrontals separated from each other; five (rarely six) supraciliaries; two to six nuchals; ear opening present, tympanum deeply sunk, without lobules; limbs short, toe separated from finger when limbs adpressed; toe IV with 10–12 subdigital lamellae, smooth; and dorsal surface of body with irregularly shaped dark spots.

Etymology. The specific name “fansipanensis” is derived from Mt. Fansipan. As the common name, we suggest Fansipan ground skink (English) and Thằn lằn cổ fansipan (Vietnamese).

Shinya Okabe, Masaharu Motokawa, Yuki Koizumi, Truong Quang Nguyen, Tao Thien Nguyen and Hai Tuan Bui. 2024. A New Species of the Genus Scincella (Squamata: Scincidae) from Mount Fansipan, Hoang Lien Son Range, northwestern Vietnam.  Zootaxa. 5537(3); 407-423. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5537.3.7 

[Herpetology • 2024] Cyrtodactylus luci • A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus chauquangensis Species Group (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Lao Cai Province, Vietnam

 

Cyrtodactylus luci

Tran, Do, Pham, Phan, Ngo, Le, Ziegler & Nguyen, 2024

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1192.117135

 Abstract

We describe a new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus based on five adult specimens from Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam. Cyrtodactylus luci sp. nov. is distinguished from the remaining Indochinese bent-toed geckos by a combination of the following morphological characteristics: medium size (SVL up to 89.5 mm); dorsal tubercles in 17–19 irregular transverse rows; ventral scales in 32–34 longitudinal rows at midbody; precloacal pores present in both sexes, 9 or 10 in males, 8 or 9 in females; 12–15 enlarged femoral scales on each thigh; femoral pores 9–12 in males, 5–10 in females; postcloacal tubercles 2–4; lamellae under toe IV 21–23; dorsal pattern consisting of 5 or 6 irregular dark bands, a thin neckband without V-shape or triangle shape in the middle, top of head with dark brown blotches; subcaudal scales transversely enlarged. Molecular phylogenetic analyses recovered the new species as the sister taxon to C. gulinqingensis from Yunnan Province, China, with strong support from all analyses and the two taxa are separated by approximately 8.87–9.22% genetic divergence based on a fragment of the mitochondrial ND2 gene. This is the first representative of Cyrtodactylus known from Lao Cai Province.

Key words: Cyrtodactylus luci sp. nov., gecko, molecular phylogeny, morphology, ND2 gene, taxonomy

Cyrtodactylus luci sp. nov. in life.
Male holotype (IEBR R.5237); Female paratype(IEBR R.5241).

 Photos: T.Q. Phan.

Cyrtodactylus luci sp. nov.

 

Diagnosis: The new species can be distinguished from other members of the genus Cyrtodactylus by a combination of the following characteristics: Size medium (SVL up to 89.5 mm); dorsal tubercles in 17–19 irregular transverse rows; ventral scales in 32–34 longitudinal rows at midbody; precloacal pores present in both sexual, 9 or 10 in males, 8 or 9 in females; 12–15 enlarged femoral scales on each thigh; femoral pores 9–12 in males, 5–10 in females; postcloacal tubercles 2–4; lamellae under toe IV 21–23; dorsal pattern consisting of 5 or 6 irregular dark bands, a discontinuous thin neckband without V-shape or triangle shape in the middle, dorsal head surface with dark brown blotches; subcaudal scales transversely enlarged.

Etymology: The species was named after the zoologist from the Vietnam National Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, late Associate Professor Doctor Luc Van Pham, who contributed greatly to the biodiversity study in Vietnam. For the common names, we suggest Luc’s Bent-toed Gecko (English) and Thạch sùng ngón lực (Vietnamese).

A macrohabitat B microhabitat of Cyrtodactylus luci sp. nov.
 Coc Ly Commune, Bac Ha District, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam.

Photos: T.Q. Phan.

Tung Thanh Tran, Quyen Hanh Do, Cuong The Pham, Tien Quang Phan, Hanh Thi Ngo, Minh Duc Le, Thomas Ziegler and Truong Quang Nguyen. 2024. A New Species of the Cyrtodactylus chauquangensis Species Group (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Lao Cai Province, Vietnam. ZooKeys. 1192: 83-102. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1192.117135

 

[Herpetology • 2020] Achalinus zugorum • Discovery of A New Species of Enigmatic Odd-Scaled Snake (Serpentes: Xenodermidae: Achalinus) from Ha Giang Province, Vietnam

Achalinus zugorum 

Miller, Davis, Luong, Do, Pham, Ziegler, Lee, Queiroz, Reynolds & Nguyen, 2020

 DOI: 10.1643/CH2020060 

   twitter.com/AryehHMiller 

Abstract

Achalinus, commonly known as odd-scaled snakes due to their unique scutellation, are a fascinating group of xenodermid snakes distributed throughout east Asia. Currently, northern Vietnam is known to host six species of Achalinus, three of which are considered endemic. During recent herpetofaunal surveys conducted in the Bac Me District of Ha Giang Province, we collected a single specimen of Achalinus in a lowland region surrounded by secondary forest on karst. We conducted Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses using multiple mitochondrial protein-coding loci and a ribosomal subunit to ascertain the phylogenetic position of the Ha Giang specimen among currently recognized odd-scaled snake species. The results of those analyses along with morphological differences support this specimen as representing a new species, which we describe as Achalinus zugorum, new species. We provide detailed morphological descriptions and comparisons of the new species as well as brief comments on the biogeography and conservation of Achalinus in northern Vietnam.

Fig. 5 (A, B) Lateral, (C) dorsal, and (D) ventral views of the head of the holotype (IEBR 4698) of Achalinus zugorum, new species, after preservation. Each white bar = 5 mm.

Fig. 4 (A) Dorsal and (B) ventral views of the holotype of Achalinus zugorum, new species (IEBR 4698), after preservation. White bar = 10 mm.

Achalinus zugorum, new species

 Vietnamese Common Name: Rắn xe điếu zug

English Common Name: Zugs' Odd-Scaled Snake

  

Diagnosis.— Achalinus zugorum differs from all other species of Achalinus by the following combination of morphological characteristics (Supplementary Table 1; see Data Accessibility): dorsal scales elliptical; one dorsal scale directly above each ventral scale; absence of everted labial scales; preocular absent (fused with prefrontal or loreal scale); maxillary teeth 28, all teeth curved and equal in size; internasal suture distinctly longer than that between the prefrontal suture; internasals not fused to prefrontals; loreal fused with prefrontals; seven infralabials; mental very narrow, separated from anterior chin shields; two elongated anterior temporals, in contact with eye, and two posterior temporals; dorsal scales in 25–23–23 rows, keeled; ventrals 173; subcaudals 70, unpaired; a maximum known total length of 458 mm, TailL/TotalL ratio of 0.23; dorsum purple to jet black in life and in preservative, lower and posterior portions of head pink-gray, ventral surface iridescent and uniform black with margins of ventral scales pink-gray.

Etymology.— The specific epithet, a plural noun in the genitive case, honors George R. Zug and Patricia B. Zug. George is commemorated for his contributions to herpetology (reviewed by Mitchell, 2018), especially within Southeast Asia, and for his mentorship to two of the authors (AHM, JLL) and many young scientists before them. We also celebrate Patricia for her contributions to herpetology, as well as her ever endearing and compassionate spirit which continues to inspire the authors.

Distribution and natural history.— The holotype of Achalinus zugorum was collected on a small gravel road running through Lùng Càng Village, Minh Ngo. c Commune, Bac Me District, Ha Giang Province, Vietnam at an elevation of 228 meters above sea level. So far, the species is known only from the type locality and no specimens have been collected since its discovery. Nothing is known about the ecology, behavior, diet, or preferred microhabitat of this species, though it is presumably a semi-fossorial species that was drawn out by recent heavy rainfall prior to collection. The habitat surrounding its collection location consisted primarily of secondary forest with medium to small hardwoods on karst. The mean annual temperature in Ha Giang Province is 23.3°C, with a dry season typically extending from October to March and the rainy season lasting April until September (Le et al., 2007).

Fig. 3 (A) Map of all type localities for odd-scaled snakes (Achalinus) and (B) province-level map of Vietnam with type localities in that country. Black arrow indicates location of Ha Giang Province. All type localities of recognized Achalinus are included with the exception of that for A. spinalis, which is geographically imprecise (“angeblich aus Japan” = allegedly from Japan; Peters, 1869). Countries are labeled with ISO alpha-2 codes.

Aryeh H. Miller, Hayden R. Davis, Anh Mai Luong, Quyen Hanh Do, Cuong The Pham, Thomas Ziegler, Justin L. Lee, Kevin De Queiroz, R. Graham Reynolds and Truong Quang Nguyen. 2020. Discovery of A New Species of Enigmatic Odd-Scaled Snake (Serpentes: Xenodermidae: Achalinus) from Ha Giang Province, Vietnam. Copeia. 108(4); 796-808. DOI: 10.1643/CH2020060

    twitter.com/AryehHMiller/status/1335999191588417537

    twitter.com/IchsAndHerps/status/1336042437282852870

 

[Herpetology • 2019] Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis • A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Vientiane Province, northern Laos

Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis  

Sitthivong, Luu, Ha, Nguyen, Le & Ziegler, 2019

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.3.3

Abstract
A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus from Vientiane Province, northern Laos is described based on morphological and molecular data. Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from remaining congeners by the following combination of characters: maximum SVL 83.9 mm; dorsal pattern consisting of dark nuchal loop, nape band and five dark transversal bands between limb insertions; intersupranasals two; dorsal tubercles present on occiput, body, hind limbs and tail base; 15 or 16 irregular dorsal tubercle rows at midbody; lateral folds clearly defined, without interspersed tubercles; 31–37 ventral scales between ventrolateral folds; six precloacal pores and 15 femoral pores in males, which are interrupted by six to eight poreless scales; six precloacal pitted scales plus in total 10–15 pitted femoral scales in females, which are separated by six to eight poreless scales; enlarged precloacal and femoral scales present; two or three postcloacal tubercles; median subcaudal scales transversely enlarged. In molecular analyses, the new species is strongly supported as a member of the Cyrtodactylus phongnhakebangensis species group, and weakly corroborated as a sister taxon to C. pageli. Pairwise genetic comparison shows that it is at least 18% divergent from other congeners in the species group based on a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene.

Keywords: Reptilia, Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis sp. nov., morphology, phylogeny, taxonomy

Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis sp. nov.


Saly Sitthivong, Vinh Quang Luu, Ngoan Van Ha, Truong Quang Nguyen, Minh Duc Le and Thomas Ziegler. 2019. A New Species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Vientiane Province, northern Laos. Zootaxa. 4701(3); 257–275. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.3.3

[Herpetology • 2014] Cyrtodactylus thuongae • A Third New Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh Province, southern Vietnam

Cyrtodactylus thuongae

Phung, van Schingen, Ziegler & Nguyen, 2014

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3764.3.5 

Abstract

We describe the third new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus from Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh Province, southern Vietnam based on a type series consisting of eleven specimens. Cyrtodactylus thuongae sp. nov. is distinguished from the remaining Indochinese Bent-toed Geckos by a combination of the following morphological characters: size medium, with a maximum SVL of 77.6 mm; dorsal pattern consisting of blotches between limbs and on occiput and a sometimes medially opened nuchal loop; dorsal tubercles in 16–18 irregular rows; ventrals in 29–44 longitudinal rows at midbody; lateral skin folds present, lacking tubercles; femoral pore series separated from precloacal pore series in males, 0–3 on each side; precloacal pores in males absent or only one; enlarged femoral scales and precloacal scales present, separated by a series of 15–16 smaller scales; postcloacal spurs two or three; subcaudal scales slightly enlarged. This is the 32nd described Cyrtodactylus species from Vietnam.

Keywords: Cyrtodactylus thuongae sp. nov., Tay Ninh Province, southern Vietnam, morphology, taxonomy

Cyrtodactylus thuongae sp. nov., adult male holotype (IEBR A.2013.23).

 Photo T.M. Phung. 

Cyrtodactylus thuongae sp. nov.

Etymology. The species name is dedicated to the wife of the first author, Dr. Thuong Thi Lien Nguyen from University of Food Industry, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for support of his field research in Vietnam

Cyrtodactylus thuongae sp. nov.:
A) adult male holotype (IEBR A.2013.23) and B) adult female paratype (ZFMK 94994) in life.

Photos T.M. Phung.

Sympatric occurrence of three Cyrtodactylus species in Ba Den Mountain,
A) Cyrtodactylus thuongae (IEBR A.2013.24), B) C. badenensis, and C) C. nigriocularis.

 Photos T.M. Phung.

Distribution. Cyrtodactylus thuongae is currently known only from the type locality in Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam (see Fig. 5). 

Natural history notes. Cyrtodactylus thuongae inhabits the same habitat with two other co-occurring cave dwelling species, C. badenensis Nguyen, Orlov & Darevsky, 2006 and C. nigriocularis Nguyen, Orlov & Darevsky, 2006 (Fig. 2). Specimens were collected at night (ca. 22–24:00) on the rocky wall in a small cave, approximately 0.5–2.5 m above the ground. Most of the specimens were found inside the cave (ca. 2–5 m from the entrance) and only one was collected outside (ca. 1.5 m away from the entrance). The surrounding habitat was mixed forest of hardwood and vine, dominated by trees of the families Moraceae, Fabaceae, and Dipterocarpaceae. C. badenensis and C. nigriocularis were also found on rocky cliffs of the cave, usually at heights below 1.5 m above the ground. 

Trung My Phung, Mona van Schingen, Thomas Ziegler and Truong Nguyen. 2014. A Third New Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh Province, southern Vietnam. Zootaxa. 3764 (3): 347–363. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3764.3.5

ResearchGate.net/publication/261296560_A_third_new_Cyrtodactylus_from_Ba_Den_Mountain_Tay_Ninh_Province_southern_Vietnam

Vietnamese Gecko Species Discovered Near Ho Chi Minh City

thanhniennews.com/youth-science/new-lizard-frog-found-in-vietnams-mountains-25138.html

 reptilesmagazine.com/Lizards/Information-News/Vietnamese-Gecko-Species-Discovered-Near-Ho-Chi-Minh-City

[Herpetology • 2018] Leptolalax macrops • A New Species of the Genus Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from southern Vietnam

Leptolalax macrops 

Duong, Do, Ngo, Nguyen & Poyarkov, 2018

ABSTRACT

 We describe a new species of megophryid frog from Phu Yen Province in southern Vietnam. Leptolalax macrops sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological attributes: (1) body size medium (SVL 28.0–29.3 mm in three adult males, 30.3 mm in single adult female); (2) supra-axillary glands present, creamy white; ventrolateral glands indistinct; (3) tympanum externally distinct; (4) dorsal skin roughly granular with larger tubercles, dermal ridges on dorsum absent; (5) rudimentary webbing present between fingers I–II and II–III; rudimentary webbing between all toes; fingers and toes without dermal fringes; (6) in life ventral surface greyish-violet with white speckling; (7) supratympanic fold distinct, dark brown in life; (8) iris bicolored, typically golden in upper half, fading to golden green in lower half; (9) tibia short (TbL/SVL 0.44–0.45 in males); and (10) eyes large and protuberant (ED/SVL 0.15–0.16 in males). From all congeners for which comparable sequences are available, the new species differs markedly in the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene sequence (P-distance>5.7%). The new species is currently known only from montane evergreen tropical forests of Song Hinh District, Phu Yen Province, and M’Drak District of Dak Lak Province at elevations of 470–630 m a.s.l. We suggest the new species should be considered as Data Deficient following the IUCN’s Red List categories. We also report a previously unknown Leptolalax mtDNA lineage from an evergreen tropical forest in the Hoa Thinh District of Phu Yen Province, which may also represent an undescribed species.

Keywords: Leptolalax macrops sp. nov.; Phu Yen Province; Dak Lak Province; Southern coastal region of Vietnam

Figure 5: Male paratype of Leptolalax macrops sp. nov. (IEBR A.2017.9) in life (Photo taken in situ. Photo by Dang Trong Do)

Leptolalax macrops sp. nov.

 Chresonymy: Leptolalax sp. [molecular lineage 7] — Rowley et al., 2015a: 10, 12.

Etymology: Specific epithet “macrops” is a noun in the nominative case, derived from Greek “macros” for “large” and “ops” for “eye”, in reference to its comparatively large eye size. 

Recommended vernacular names: We recommend “Big-eyed Litter Frog” as the common English name of the new species and the common name in Vietnamese as “Cóc mày mắt to”

Figure 5: Male paratype of Leptolalax macrops sp. nov. (IEBR A.2017.9) in life.
Figure 6: Typical habitat (A) and microhabitat (B) of Leptolalax macrops sp. nov. in type locality: Suoi Khi Stream, Hon Den Mt., Ea Ly and Ea Trol commune border, Song Hinh District, Phu Yen Province, Vietnam

 (Photos by Dang Trong Do)

Tang Van Duong, Dang Trong Do, Chung Dac Ngo, Truong Quang Nguyen and Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Jr. 2018. A New Species of the Genus Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from southern Vietnam. ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH. 38(3); 1-16. DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2018.009

ResearchGate.net/publication/324504580_A_new_species_of_the_genus_Leptolalax_from_southern_Vietnam