Liu Jing, Li Shize, Cheng Yanlin, Wei Gang, Wang Bin, Cheng Gang
Department of Resources and Environment, Moutai Institute, Renhuai, China Department of Resources and Environment, Moutai Institute Renhuai China.
Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory, Guiyang College, Guiyang, China Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory, Guiyang College Guiyang China.
Biodivers Data J. 2025 Jul 3;13:e153987. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.13.e153987. eCollection 2025.
The Asian horned toad subfamily Megophryinae (Bonaparte, 1850) currently comprises more than 140 species and is widely distributed in southern China, as well as in Tropical Asia from India and Bhutan to the Philippines. During amphibian surveys conducted at Mt.Daxue Nature Reserve on June 28-30, 2023, we collected specimens of within the genus . Based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons, we describe this taxon as a new species from southwestern China.
Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial DNA strongly support the new species as a sister species of . The uncorrected genetic distances between the 16S rRNA and COI genes between the new species and its closest congener were 9.3% and 8.1%, respectively. The new species could be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) adult males have a moderate body size (SVL 37.1-40.6 mm), differing from in having longer hindlimbs when adpressed anteriorly-the tibiotarsal articulation reaches the mid-level of the eye when extended (vs. only reaching the area between the tympanum and the eye in ); (2) vomerine ridge present and 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) toes lacking lateral fringes and webbing; (7) Distinct relative finger lengths: II < I < V < III in the new species (vs. I < II < V < III in ); (8) heels overlapping when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; (9) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the level of the middle of the eye when leg is stretched forward; (10) an internal single subgular vocal sac in male; (11) dense nuptial spines on dorsal bases of fingers I and II in breeding adult males;(12) Eye diameter (ED) significantly smaller than that of (ED: 4.00±0.28 in the new species vs. 5.00±0.38 in , P < 0.05).
亚洲角蟾亚科（波拿巴，1850年）目前包含140多个物种，广泛分布于中国南方以及从印度、不丹到菲律宾的热带亚洲地区。在2023年6月28日至30日于大雪山自然保护区进行的两栖动物调查中，我们采集了该属内的标本。基于分子系统发育分析和形态比较，我们将这个分类单元描述为来自中国西南部的一个新物种。
基于线粒体DNA的分子系统发育分析有力地支持该新物种为[某物种]的姐妹物种。新物种与其最亲近的同属物种之间16S rRNA和COI基因的未校正遗传距离分别为9.3%和8.1%。新物种可通过以下特征组合与同属其他物种区分开来：（1）成年雄性体型适中（体长37.1 - 40.6毫米），与[某物种]不同，当后肢向前伸直时，后肢更长——伸展时胫跗关节到达眼睛中部水平（相比之下，[某物种]仅到达鼓膜和眼睛之间的区域）；（2）有犁骨嵴但无犁骨齿；（3）舌头后部无缺刻；（4）每个上眼睑边缘有一个小的角状瘤；（5）鼓膜明显可见，呈圆形；（6）脚趾无外侧缘膜和蹼；（7）相对手指长度明显不同：新物种中II < I < V < III（相比之下，[某物种]中I < II < V < III）；（8）当大腿与身体成直角时，脚跟重叠；（9）腿部向前伸展时，胫跗关节到达眼睛中部水平；（10）雄性有一个内部单一的喉下声囊；（11）繁殖期成年雄性手指I和II的基部背面有密集的婚刺；（12）眼径（ED）明显小于[某物种]（新物种的ED：4.00±0.28，[某物种]的ED：5.00±0.38，P < 0.05）。
