Abstract

We describe a new species of megophryid frog from Mt. Foding National Nature Reserve in Guizhou Province, China. The new species is morphologically distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: medium body size (SVL 88.1–93.2 mm in five adult males and 108.7–111.2 mm in two adult females); head wider than long; tympanum hidden; dorsal skin slightly rough with irregularly shaped dark blotches and stripes; chin, ventral surface of throat rough with brown, irregularly shaped dark markings, two large longitudinal black-brown stripes on lateral throat; ventral surface brown-black with small brown granular spots; occipital region slightly uplifted; upper eyelid with tubercles, one of which is prominent, bluntly conical horn; margin of tongue shallow notched behind; toes webbing formular: I (1½)-(2) II (1½)-(3) III (2½)-(4) IV (4)-(2) V, webbing extending as a wide fringe along either side of each toe; large single subgular vocal sac located laterally on floor of mouth in males; tadpoles with a transverse white stripe on ventral surface and two longitudinal white stripes along sides of the body. In addition, phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and COI fragment confirms its distinct identity, which clusters the new species closest to B. orientalis, with uncorrected p-distances of COI at least 3.77%. At present, the new species is known only from small streams in Mt. Foding National Nature Reserve at about 740–1000 m elevation. Its natural history and conservation status is discussed.

Key Words: Brachytarsophrys, Guizhou Province, Mt. Foding National Nature Reserve, new species, phylogeny, taxonomy

 Brachytarsophrys wui Lyu, Zhou & Long, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Brachytarsophrys wui sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) medium body size (SVL 88.1–93.2 mm in five adult males and 108.7–111.2 mm in two adult females); (2) head very large, wider than long, and nearly one-half as broad as the SVL; (3) tympanum hidden; (4) pupils black, iris brownish red; (5) upper eyelid with tubercles, one of which is enlarged and becoming a prominent, bluntly conical horn; (6) dorsal skin slightly rough with irregularly shaped dark blotches and stripes; (7) belly, chest, and limbs smooth with irregular off-white spots; (8) chin, ventral surface of throat rough with dark brown, irregularly shaped markings, two large longitudinal black-brown stripes on lateral throat; (9) single subgular vocal sac openings slit-like, located posterolateral on floor of mouth in male; (10) indistinct brown nuptial pad on the dorsal surface of the first and second fingers base, with dense, tiny, black nuptial spines in adult male during breeding season; (11) forelimb short and thick, webbing absent, One third as broad as distal toe phalanx; (12) relative length of fingers I<II<IV<III; (13) toes about I (1½)-(2) II (1½)-(3) III (2½)-(4) IV (4)-(2) V webbed in male; (14) tadpoles with a transverse white stripe, white speckles on posterior ventral surface, and two longitudinal white stripes along the sides of body; (15) oral disk with lips expanded vertically forming dorsally oriented funnel.

Etymology. The specific epithet ‘‘wui’’ is in honor of late professor and zoologist Lyu Wu (1915–1983), vice president (1969–1975) of Guizhou Academy of Sciences (Guizhou Province, China), in recognition of his efforts on biodiversity surveys and research in Guizhou Province in the 1960s and 70s. For the common name, we recommend “Wu’s Short-Legged Toad” (English) and “Wu Shi Duan Tui Chan” (伍氏短腿蟾) (Chinese).

 Boulenophrys youran Xiao, Shi & Mo, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of morphological characters: (1) Body size relatively large, SVL 45.3–51.1 mm in nine adult males, 55.6–58.2 mm in two adult females; (2) head wider than long, males HDL/HDW 0.69–0.83; (3) margin of tongue feebly notched posteriorly; (4) subarticular tubercles present on fingers I, relative finger lengths II < I < IV < III; (5) relative toe lengths: I < V < II < III < IV; (6) vomerine ridges present, vomerine teeth absent; (7) hindlimbs slender, heels overlapping when hindlimbs folded; (8) tibiotarsal articulation exceeding snout tip when leg stretched forward; (9) toes with weak webbing, formula: I1⅓ − 2II1⅓ − 2½III2 − 3½IV3½ − 2V, lateral fringes on toes wide; (10) dense moderate black conical nuptial spines on inner two fingers in breeding adult males.

Etymology. The specific epithet youran is a noun in apposition derived from the Chinese word “悠然” (yōu rán), meaning tranquil or composed. It references the verse “采菊东篱下,悠然见南山” from the classical poem Drinking Wine No. 5 by Tao Yuanming (365–427 CE), which depicts a state of serene harmony with nature. The name thus alludes to the species type locality, Nanshan (南山), and evokes the pristine, undisturbed montane streams it inhabits. The English vernacular name “Youran Horned Toad” is here proposed, with the corresponding Chinese name “悠然角蟾” (Yōu Rán Jiǎo Chán).