[Most Recent Entries] [Calendar View]
Tuesday, August 12th, 2025
| Time | Event | ||||||||||||
| 9:38a | [Herpetology • 2025] Xenophrys tongbiguanensis • Morphological and Molecular Data reveal One New Species of the Genus Xenophrys Günther, 1864 (Anura: Megophryidae) from Yunnan, China
Abstract Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve, located in the western part of China’s Yunnan Province adjoining northern Myanmar, harbors a striking diversity of species. Previous studies have indicated that herpetological diversity in this region remains underestimated. During herpetological surveys in 2024, five specimens of Xenophrys were collected from Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve. Subsequent morphological comparisons and phylogenetic reconstruction indicate the presence of a distinct and previously unknown lineage within the genus Xenophrys, which we herein describe as a new species, Xenophrys tongbiguanensis sp. nov. This discovery brings the total number of recognized species in the genus to 32, including 13 in China and five in Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve. The identification of this species further underscores the underestimated amphibian diversity of the reserve. Given its location along the China–Myanmar border, it is necessary to strengthen international cooperation in order to clarify the distribution of species within this transboundary region. Key Words: Diversity, new species, Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve, Xenophrys, Xenophrys tongbiguanensis sp. nov.
Xenophrys tongbiguanensis Wu, Yu, Chen & Che, sp. nov. Xenophrys sp., Wu et al. 2024. Diagnosis. Xenophrys tongbiguanensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) body size medium, SVL 43.5–44.2 mm in three adult males and 54.8–57.6 mm in two adult females; (2) head length almost equal to width; (3) vomerine teeth prominent; (4) eye diameter less than twice as long as maximum tympanum diameter; (5) tympanum distinct, upper margin concealed by supratympanic fold; (6) tongue oval-shaped, slightly notched posteriorly; (7) tibio-tarsal articulation of straightened limb reaching between nostrils and tip of snout; (8) the heels slightly overlapping; (9) relative finger length: I < II < IV < III; (10) metacarpal tubercle absent; (11) toes with rudimentary webbing; (12) throat, chest, and anterior half of abdomen yellowish-brown with dense orange flecking and three longitudinal dark-brown stripes that one located in the middle of the throat and the other two located below the pectoral glands; (12) male with single internal vocal sac; and (13) nuptial pads in males absent. Etymology. The specific epithet “tongbiguanen” is a Latinized adjective derived from the name of Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, China, where the new species occurs. We propose the English common name “Tongbiguanen horned toad” and the Chinese common name “Tóng Bì Guān Jiǎo Chán (铜壁关角蟾).” Yun-He Wu, An-Ru Zuo, Shen-Pin Yang, Ding-Can Zhang, Zheng-Pan Duan, Felista Kasyoka Kilunda, Zhong-Bin Yu and Jing Che. 2025. Morphological and Molecular Data reveal One New Species of the Genus Xenophrys Günther, 1864 (Anura, Megophryidae) from Yunnan, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 101(4): 1409-1422. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.158027 | ||||||||||||
| 10:55a | [Botany • 2025] Trichodrymona glutinosa (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species from the Cordillera Occidental of Colombia
Abstract Field expeditions to the Cordillera Occidental of the Colombian Andes have resulted in the discovery of a new species of Trichodrymonia (Gesneriaceae). Trichodrymonia glutinosa J.L.Clark & Clavijo is described from the western Andean slopes of the Cordillera Occidental, along the old highway between Cali and Buenaventura. The new species is a lithophytic stout herb with elongate pendent leaves and with vegetative and reproductive structures covered with a glutinous indumentum. Based on IUCN guidelines, a preliminary conservation assessment of ‘Vulnerable' (VU) is recommended for T. glutinosa.
Trichodrymonia glutinosa J.L.Clark & Clavijo John L. Clark and Laura Clavijo. 2025. Trichodrymonia glutinosa (Gesneriaceae), A New Species from the Cordillera Occidental of Colombia. Nordic Journal of Botany. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/njb.04928 [07 August 2025] | ||||||||||||
| 11:30a | [Herpetology • 2025] Lycodon calcarophilus • A New Limestone-associated Species of Wolf Snake in the Lycodon fasciatus complex (Serpentes: Colubridae) from central Vietnam
Abstract As part of our ongoing investigations into the systematics of the Lycodon fasciatus species complex, we examined specimens from the Northern Annamites (Truong Son Mountains) in central Vietnam, previously referred to as Lycodon fasciatus Anderson in the literature. Herein, we describe a new species of the genus Lycodon Fitzinger from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh Province, central Vietnam, based on both molecular evidence derived from published phylogenetic frameworks and newly collected morphological data. The new species, Lycodon calcarophilus sp. nov., closely resembles Lycodon ruhstrati (Fischer), but can be distinguished by several morphological characters, including the loreal in contact with eye, lower ratio tail length to total length, lower number of subcaudal scales, lower number of total body scales, and lower number of body cross-bands. We provide detailed comparisons between L. calcarophilus sp. nov. with Lycodon fasciatus as currently defined and other members of the L. fasciatus group. Additionally, we provide an updated checklist of 152 species of amphibians and reptiles currently documented from Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Reptilia, Lycodon calcarophilus sp. nov., systematics, morphology, Annamites (Truong Son Mountains)
Gernot VOGEL, Andrey M. BRAGIN, Nikolay A. POYARKOV and Tan Van NGUYEN. 2025. A New Limestone-associated Species of Wolf Snake in the Lycodon fasciatus complex (Squamata: Serpentes: Colubridae) from central Vietnam. Zootaxa. 5679(1); 1-44. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.1 [2025-08-12]  | ||||||||||||
| 3:52p | [Herpetology • 2025] Leptobrachella weixinensis • Morphological and Molecular Evidence reveal A New Asian leaf litter toad of the Genus Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 (Anura: Megophryidae) from the northeastern hills of Yunnan, China
Abstract The genus Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 includes 110 species and is the most diverse genus of the family Megophryidae. The recent and rapid description of numerous new species of Leptobrachella suggests that its species diversity is underestimated. The Northeastern Hills of Yunnan, China, are located in the Wumeng Mountain region, bordering Sichuan and Guizhou provinces. Compared to the other two neighboring provinces in the Wumeng Mountain region, the diversity of Leptobrachella in the Northeastern Hills of Yunnan has attracted less attention. During herpetological surveys in 2024, three Leptobrachella specimens were collected from the Northeastern Hills of Yunnan. The molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate the presence of a separate and previously unknown lineage in the L. oshanensis complex. Morphologically, they are distinguishable from their congeners based on differences in body size, degree of webbing and fringing on the toes, ventral skin texture, and iris coloration in life. Herein, based on the integration of morphological comparisons and phylogenetic reconstruction, we describe a new species of Leptobrachella from the Northeastern Hills of Yunnan. Our discovery increases the number of Leptobrachella species recorded in China to 47 and the total number of known species in the genus to 111. Our study further confirms that species diversity in the Northeastern Hills of Yunnan is underestimated, thus highlighting the need to further strengthen fieldwork and study in the future. Key Words: Biodiversity, frog, Leptobrachella weixinensis sp. nov., new species, Yunnan Province
Leptobrachella weixinensis sp. nov. Diagnosis. Leptobrachella weixinensis sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Leptobrachella morphologically by the presence of small size, presence of macroglands (supra-axillary, femoral, and ventrolateral glands), vomerine teeth absent, rounded finger tips, and presence of an elevated inner metacarpal tubercle not continuous to the thumb (e.g., Dubois 1980; Ohler et al. 2011; Rowley et al. 2013). The new species can be further distinguished from its congeners by the combination of: (1) small body size (SVL 28.2–29.7 mm in three males); (2) interorbital space wider than internarial distance; (3) upper margin of tympanum incontact with supratympanic ridge; (4) tibiotarsal articulation reaches the nostril when hindlimb is stretched along the side of the body; (5) heels overlapping; (6) toes with rudimentary webbing and narrow lateral fringes; (7) flanks with large irregular black spots; (8) iris distinctly bicolored, typically orange in upper half, silver white in lower half; (9) ventral surface of throat, chest, and belly creamy white; chest and abdomen with distinct dark patches; (10) supratympanic ridge distinct with reddish-brown pigmentation. Etymology. The specific epithet “weixinensis” is given as a noun in apposition and refers to the name of the Weixin County in Yunnan Province, China, where the new species occurs. We suggest the English common name “Weixin Leaf Litter Toad” and the Chinese common name “威信掌突蟾” (Wēi Xìn Zhǎng Tū Chán). Nai-Yi Liu, Lu Chen, Wei Xu and Yun-He Wu. 2025. Morphological and Molecular Evidence reveal A New Asian leaf litter toad of the Genus Leptobrachella Smith, 1925 (Anura, Megophryidae) from the northeastern hills of Yunnan, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 101(4): 1397-1408. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.148507 |
| << Previous Day |
2025/08/12 [Calendar] |
Next Day >> |