The Vietnamese population of Megophrys kuatunensis (Amphibia: Megophryidae) represents a new species of Asian horned frog from Vietnam and southern China

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2017
Auteurs:Tapley, Cutajar, Mahoney, Nguyen, Dau, Nguyen, Van Luong, Rowley
Journal:Zootaxa
Volume:4344
Uitgave:3
Pagination:465
Date Published:Aug-11-2017
ISSN:1175-5326
Trefwoorden:bioacoustics, cryptic species, Hoang Lien, Megophrys rubrimera sp. nov., Southeast Asia, tadpole
Samenvatting:

The Asian frog genus Megophrys is a diverse group of morphologically conserved, forest-dwelling frogs. The genus harbours highly localised species diversification and new species continue to be described on a regular basis. We examined the taxonomic status of a population of Megophrys frogs from the Hoang Lien Range in northern Vietnam and southern China previously identified as M. kuatunensis (subgenus Panophrys). Preliminary phylogenetic analyses using a fragment of 16S rDNA places the species in question within the Megophrys (subgenus Panophrys) species group, a primarily Chinese radiation within the genus. On the basis of morphological, molecular and bioacoustic data, we conclude that this population does not represent M. kuatunensis, or any known species in the genus. We herein describe this species of Megophrys as new. Known only from Sa Pa District, Lao Cai Province in Vietnam and Jinping County, Yunnan Province in China, the new species is likely to be threatened by ongoing deforestation in the region. We provide an updated species description of M. kuatunensis based on type specimens, and suggest that M. kuatunensis is likely to be restricted to eastern China.

URL:https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/issue/view/zootaxa.4344.3
DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.4344.310.11646/zootaxa.4344.3.3
Short Title:Zootaxa
BioAcoustica ID: 
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