A New Species of the Genus Rhacophorus(Anura:Rhacophoridae) from Southern China

A new species of rhacophorid of the genus Rhacophorus is described from the Shiwandashan National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, Southern China. Rhacophorus pinglongensis sp. nov. is compared with congeners from China and other parts of Southeast Asia. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by combination of following characters:(1) small size(adult male, SVL 32.0-38.5 mm);(2) smooth and green dorsum;(3) flanks, axilla, ventral surface of forearms, inguinal, anterior and posterior surfaces of thighs, ventral surface of shank, and dorsal surface of feet covered with black blotches with white spots or white spots with a faint orange tint;(4) ventral surface of feet and webbing tangerine;(5) supratympanic fold weak;(6) outer margin of forearms and feet with low dermal ridges;(7) calcars absent on heels;(8) iris silver, diffusing to ecru laterally with light khaki ring along margin. The new species is closely related to R. dorsoviridis, R. moltrechti, and R. nigropunctatus based on adult morphology. Currently, this species is known only from mid-elevation montane evergreen forest in the Shiwandashan National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, China.     

A new species of Gracixalus (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from northern Vietnam

We describe a new species of small tree frog from northern Vietnam based on morphological differences and molecular divergence. Gracixalus waza sp. nov. is distinguishable from its congeners and other small rhacophorid species on the basis of a combination of the following characters: (1) size small (snout-vent length of males 27.1–32.9 mm, of females 37.6 mm); (2) head as wide as or wider than long; (3) vomerine teeth absent; (4) snout rounded and long (16–18 % of the snout-vent length); (5) spines on upper eyelid absent; (6) tibiotarsal projection absent; (7) dorsal skin smooth; (8) dermal fringes on forearm and tarsus absent; (9) dorsal surface of head and body greyish-green to moss-green with dark brown pattern forming an inverse Y marking; and (10) throat and chest with dark marbling. Our molecular data showed that the new species is nested in the same group with Gracixalus jinxiuensis sensu lato.     

Two New Species of Liuixalus (Rhacophoridae,Anura): Evidence from Morphological and Molecular Analyses

Due to small body sizes, superficial similarities in morphologies, and obscure activity behaviors, the phylogeny and taxonomy of species in the genus Liuixalus were very troublesome. Some species might comprise a complex of cryptic species. To investigate the species of group, we constructed the matrilineal genealogy of the genus using 16s rRNA mitochondrial DNA sequences. Analyses recovered six well supported matrilines that involved L. romeri, L. ocellatus, L. hainanus, L. calcarius, Liuixalus shiwandashansp. nov. and Liuixalus jinxiuensissp. nov., though the historical relationships among them remained unresolved. Currently, Liuixalus included 4 species, distributed eastwards from northern Vietnam to Hong Kong, China. Based on genealogical and morphological distinctiveness, we described Liuixalus jinxiuensissp. nov. from the type locality Mt. Dayao, Jinxiu, China and Liuixalus shiwandashansp. nov. from the type locality Mt. Shiwanda, China. A combination of morphological measurements, genetic, bioacoustic and osteological analysis was served to diagnose the new taxa.     

A New Species of Leptolalax （Anura： Megophryidae） from Southern China

A new species, Leptolalax laui sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected from Hong Kong and Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China. The new species can be distinguished from other known congeners by morphological and molecular data. The new species is characterized by the following characters： 1） small size （adult males SVL 24.8.1 mm-26.7 mm）; 2） near immaculate creamy white chest and belly; 3） broad lateral fringes on toes; 4） head longer or as long as wide; 5） distinct dark brown spots in flank; 6） moderate dermal fringes on fingers; 7） brown or reddish-brown dorsum with fine round scattered tubercles; 8） thin traverse brownish-grey bars on the dorsal surface of tibia and lower arms; 9） longitudinal ridges under toes not interrupted at the articulations.     

A new species of Chirixalus from Vietnam (Anura: Rhacophoridae)

A new rhacophorid species is described on the basis of two specimens collected from Vu Quang Nature Reserve, Ha Tinh Province, central Vietnam. The species has inner and outer fingers that are not opposable, but in order to avoid taxonomic confusion, it is tentatively assigned to the genus Chirixalus. It is a large Chirixalus, having robust body with warty, grayish dorsum and immaculate ventrum, and lacking large pollex, white granules around anus and on limbs, and dark markings on sides of body. It is most similar to C. eiffingeri and C. idiootocus in external morphology, and much different from the other congeners. Generic definition of the genera Chirixalus and Kurixalus is discussed.     

A new species of Rhacophorus from eastern Thailand (Anura: Rhacophoridae)

A new tree frog of the genus Rhacophorus is described on the basis of specimens collected from Kalasin and Roi Et Provinces, eastern Thailand. It can be distinguished from all other congeners by the combination of: moderate body size (about 38 mm in males and 44 mm in females); brownish dorsum with irregular, dark marking; third finger webbed broadly to base of disk or less on outer side, and fourth finger to distal subarticular tubercle or base of disk; and no dermal appendage on snout, vent, or heel. It is currently known only around the type locality, where habitats suitable for anurans are limited.     

A New Species of Genus Microhyla(Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) from Zhejiang Province,China

We described a new species, Microhyla beilunensis sp. nov., from Zhejiang Province of China. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial 12 S, 16 S and CO1 gene sequences suggested that the new taxon was distinctly separated from its congeners and closed to M. mixtura and M. okinavensis. Morphologically, the new species could be identified from its congeners except M. mixtura by several characters:(1) rudimentary webs on toe base;(2) absence of disks and dorsal median longitudinal grooves on finger tips;(3) presence of disks and dorsal median longitudinal grooves on toe tips. As well, the new species could be identified from topotype M. mixtura by the combination of characters:(1) apart from the stripes, bar-shaped and oval-shaped patterns, the rounded spots present on the dorsum of body and legs;(2) the outer metacarpal tubercles prominently larger than the inner one;(3) of males, the ratios of HW, IND, UEW and LAW to SVL of the new species were significantly larger than those of M. mixtura(P 0.01), and the ratios of SL, IOD, LAHL, HLL, TL, TFL and FL to SVL of the new species were significantly less than those of M. mixtura(P 0.05).     

A New Species of Microhyla (Anura: Microhylidae) from Nilphamari,Bangladesh

A new species of Microhyla frog from the Nilphamari district of Bangladesh is described and compared with its morphologically similar and geographically proximate congeners. Molecular phylogeny derived from mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed that although the new species – designated here as Microhyla nilphamariensis sp. nov. – forms a clade with M. ornate, it is highly divergent from M. ornata and all of its congeners, with 5.7 – 13.2% sequence divergence at the 16S rRNA gene. The new species can be identified phenotypically on the basis of a set of diagnostic (both qualitative and quantitative) characters as follows: head length is 77% of head width, distance from front of eyes to the nostril is roughly six times greater than nostril–snout length, internarial distance is roughly five times greater than nostril–snout length, interorbital distance is two times greater than internarial distance, and distance from back of mandible to back of the eye is 15% of head length. Furthermore, inner metacarpal tubercle is small and ovoid-shaped, whereas outer metacarpal tubercle is very small and rounded. Toes have rudimentary webbing, digital discs are absent, inner metatarsal tubercle is small and round, outer metatarsal tubercle is ovoid-shaped, minute, and indistinct.     

A New Species of Euphlyctis (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Barisal,Bangladesh

A new species of the genus Euphlyctis is described from the Barisal district of Bangladesh and compared with its morphologically similar and geographically proximate congeners. The new species is highly divergent in comparison to other congeneric species on basis of sequence divergence in mitochondrial DNA gene sequences (ranging from 5.5% to 17.8% divergence). Euphlyctis kalasgramensis sp. nov. can be readily diagnosed by having the following combination of characters: snout-vent length (SVL) 30.44 – 37.88 mm, absence of mid-dorsal line, nostril–snout length 3% of SVL, nostril much closer to snout tip than eye, nostril–snout length 48% of distance from front of eyes to nostril, relative length of fingers (shortest to longest: 1 = 2 < 4 < 3), tibia length 59% of SVL, foot length 55% of SVL.     

Description of a New Species of Amolops (Anura:Ranidae) from Tibet,China

A new species,Amolops pallasitatus sp.nov.is described based on specimens collected from Chentang Town,Dinggyê County,southern Tibet,China.The new species can be distinguished from other known congeners by mitochondrial divergence and morphological characteristics including:(1)medium body size,SVL 70.6–72.3 mm in adult females;(2)skin smooth over the entire body;(3)absence of dorsolateral fold;(4)tympanum small,edge indistinct,less than half of eye diameter;(5)vomerine teeth in two short oblique;(6)circummarginal and transverse grooves absent on disk of the first finger;(7)presence of inner metacarpal tubercle;(8)toes fully webbed,webbing formula Ⅰ0-0~-Ⅱ0-1/2Ⅲ0-1~+Ⅳ1~+-0Ⅴ;(9)absence of outer metatarsal tubercle and tarsal glands;(10)tibiotarsal articulation of the hind limb reaches posterior corners of the eye;(11)dorsum yellow-green,with irregular dark brown blotches without margins;(12)blotches concentrated on the dorsum,less on the flanks.In morphology,Amolops pallasitatus sp.nov.is similar to A.himalayanus and A.formosus,the difference between them is length of hind limbs,web of toe and dorsal colour pattern.The systematic placement of the new species within the genus is unresolved and it is not assigned to any recognized species group,for the lack of convictive evidences.     

Molecular evidence for taxonomy of Rhacophorus appendiculatus and Kurixalus species from northern Vietnam,with comments on systematics of Kurixalus and Gracixalus (Anura: Rhacophoridae)

Phylogeny of Rhacophoridae is constructed using two mitochondrial (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA) and two nuclear (tyrosinase and Rag-1) genes in an attempt to test for the taxonomic status of Rhacophorus appendiculatus and Kurixalus species from Tam Dao. All phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that specimens from Tam Dao are nested in Kurixalus bisacculus, indicating that they belong to K. bisacculus. R. appendiculatus is closer to genus Kurixalus than to other genera with strong support values. In combination with morphological evidence, it is suggested that R. appendiculatus should be placed in Kurixalus. Kurixalus verrucosus is not related to Kurixalus appendiculatus and it is the sister taxon to the clade of K. bisacculus and Kurixalus odontotarsus, which rejects that K. verrucosus is a synonym of K. appendiculatus. The genus Kurixalus needs redefinition by clear synapomorphic characters, and generic status of Kurixalus ananjevae deserves further examination.     

Integrative Taxonomic Approach for Describing a New Cryptic Species of Bush Frog (Raorchestes: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats,India

A new cryptic species of bush frog Raorchestes honnametti sp. nov. is described from the south-eastern part of the Western Ghats, India. This newly described species belongs to the Charius clade and is morphologically similar to other clade members—R. charius and R. griet. Therefore, an integrative taxonomic approach based on molecular and bioacoustic analysis along with morphology was used to delimit the new species. Raorchestes honnametti sp. nov., is currently known only from Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, a part of Biligiri Rangaswamy horst mountain range (a mountain formed due movement of two faults) formed during the Late Quaternary period (1.8–2.58 Ma). Discovery of cryptic species from a highly speciose and well-studied genus Raorchestes hints at the possible existence of several more cryptic species in this genus. We discuss the possible reasons for crypsis and emphasize the need for continued systematic surveys of amphibians across the Western Ghats.     

A New Species of the Genus Xenophrys(Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from Libo County,Guizhou, China

A new species of the genus Xenophrys is described from a karst cave environment of Libo County, Guizhou Province, Southern China. The new species, Xenophrys liboensis sp. nov., is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: 1) tympanum distinct; 2) vomerine teeth present; 3) the length of lower arm and hand larger than the half of snout-vent; 4) heels overlapped slightly when the flexed legs are held at right angles to the body axis; 5) toe tips with rudimentary webs and without grooves; 6) dermal fringes moderate; 7) tubercles on the dorsum forming an X-shaped weak ridge; 8) horn-like tubercle at the edge of the upper eyelid distinct; 9) color of the iris in life is brown. In Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of 22 species of Xenophrys, all the individuals of X. liboensis sp. nov. clustered into a monophyletic clade with high posterior probabilities. In addition, the ranges of genetic divergences of X. liboensis sp. nov. with other species were interspecific rather than intraspecific. Based on the above evidences, we consider that X. liboensis sp. nov. is a valid species in Xenophrys.     

Evolution of reproduction in the Rhacophoridae (Amphibia, Anura)

Rhacophorid treefrogs have different reproductive modes: some go through a tadpole stage and some have direct development, and the adults of some species produce foam nests. Philautus is the only genus characterized by direct development. The production of foam nests has been reported in the genera Polypedates, Rhacophorus, Chiromantis and Chirixalus. Recent molecular studies did not provide a robust hypothesis concerning the origin of these reproductive modes in the Rhacophoridae. In order to better understand the evolution of these reproductive modes, we tried to clarify relationships within this group, using DNA sequencing. Our data set consists in a large number of new sequences (1676 base pairs corresponding to threee genes) for five outgroup ranoids and 48 Rhacophoridae, including 16 undescribed species from Sri Lanka and southern India, and all homologous data available in Genbank. After the inclusion of Philautus from India, our data show that the separation of Philautus into clades does not coincide with their geographic distribution. Our data point to the existence of a clade, including the genera Rhacophorus, Polypedates, Chiromantis and Chirixalus, which confirms the results of Wilkinson et al. (2002) and suggests that the ability to produce foam nests has emerged only once in the Rhacophoridae, as already stated by these authors.     

中国西部刺齿(虫兆)属Homidia一新种(弹尾纲:长角(虫兆)科)

本文记述中国西部剌齿(虫兆)属1新种:中带剌齿(虫兆)H.mediofascia,sp.nov..该种区别属内其他种的主要特征是本种胸部第2节到腹部第2节背部中间具色带,第1腹节具大刚毛a1,腹部第4节后缘大刚毛7+7,粘管后侧面具光滑刚毛4根.本文还对属内5个相近种进行了比较.正模:早,陕西省安康市,2006-Ⅵ-15;副模:8♀♀,1♂以及8头酒精标本,陕西省安康市,2006-Ⅵ-15.1♀和1头酒精标本保存于南京大学,其他标本保存于台州学院生命科学学院.     

A New Species of Microhyla(Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) from Langbian Plateau,Central Vietnam

We describe a new species, Microh yla hongiaoensis sp. nov., from Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam based on morphological data and molecular evidences. The new species is sister to M. pulchella by molecular phylogenetics and also most closely resembles M. pulchella in morphological characteristics, albeit differs from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological features:(1) size medium(SVL 13.6–14.7 mm in males and 18.3–18.6 mm in females);(2) fingers II–IV with small disks, dorsal surface of disks, without median longitudinal groove;(3) webbing formula I1?– 2 II1 –2 III1 – 2?IV2?– 1 V;(4) toe disks with dorsal median longitudinal groove;(5) dorsal back without two small black spots;(6) one small black spot adjacent behind the eyes;(7) few small black scapular spots in the flanks-belly and inguinal region;(8) palm with two small metatarsal tubercles;(9) tibiotarsal reaching beyond snout. M.hongiaoensis sp. nov. occurs in evergreen montane tropical forests at an elevation of 1500 m a.s.l.     

A New Species of the Asian Toad Genus Megophrys sensu lato(Anura: Megophryidae) from Guizhou Province,China

We describe a new species of the genus Megophr ys from Guizhou Province, China. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA sequences all strongly supported the new species as an independent clade nested into the Megophrys clade and sister to M. minor. On morphology,the new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters:(1) small body size with SVL 39.2 mm in male and SVL 40.4 mm in female;(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, rounded;(6) two or three metacarpal tubercles in hand;(7) relative finger lengths: Ⅰ Ⅱ Ⅴ Ⅲ;(8) toes without webbing;(9) heels overlapped when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body;(10) tibiotarsal articulation reaching tympanum to eye when leg stretched forward;(11) an internal single subgular vocal sac in male;(12) in breeding male, the nuptial pads with black nuptial spines on the dorsal bases of the first and second fingers.     

A New Species of the Genus Leptolalax(Anura: Megophryidae) from Northern Thailand

A new species of the genus Leptolalax is described from Doi Saket, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: 1) adult size large(male SVL 45.8-52.5 mm); 2) tympanum distinct; 3) skin of dorsal surface mostly smooth, with distinct tubercles on dorsal and lateral parts of the body; 4) ventrolateral glandular ridge distinct and complete; 5) lateral body and groin covered with dark brown or black spots; 6) throat, chest, and belly nearly immaculate white; and 7) bi-colored iris, upper onethird golden, and lower two-thirds gray. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial 16S rRNA further distinguishes it from its congeners for which sequences are available.     

Call Characteristics of Two Sympatric and Morphologically Similar Tree Frogs Species,Polypedates megacephalus and Polypedates mutus(Anura: Rhacophoridae), from Hainan,China

Anuran calls are usually species-specific and therefore valued as a tool for species identification. Call characteristics are a potential honest signal in sexual selection because they often reflect male body size. Polypedates megacephalus and P. mutus are two sympatric and morphologically similar tree frogs, but it remains unknown whether their calls are associated with body size. In this study, we compared call characteristics of these two species and investigated any potential relationships with body size. We found that P. megacephalus, males produced six call types which consisting of three distinct notes, while P. mutus males produced five types consisting of two types of notes. Dominant frequency, note duration, pulse duration, and call duration exhibited significant interspecific differences. In P. megacephalus, one note exhibited a dominant frequency that was negatively correlated with body mass, snout-vent length, head length, and head width. In P. mutus, the duration of one note type was positively correlated with body mass and head width. These differences in call characteristics may play an important role in interspecific recognition. Additionally, because interspecific acoustic variation reflects body size, calls may be relevant for sexual selection. Taken together, our results confirmed that calls are a valid tool for distinguishing between the two tree-frog species in the field.