[Herpetology • 2025] Amolops spicalinea • A New Species of Amolops monticola group (Amphibia: Ranidae) from Hoang Lien Range, northwest Vietnam

 

 Amolops spicalinea 

 Nguyen, Tapley,  La & Rowley, 2025

 

 Hoang Lien cascade frog | Ếch bám đá hoàng liên sơn  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5594.3.3 

 

Abstract

Of the 19 species of Amolops reported from Vietnam, 10 are known to occur in the Hoang Lien Range in northwest Vietnam. During field surveys in the Hoang Lien Range, we collected individuals from a population of Amolops that we could not assign to any known species; morphological and molecular data assign these individuals to the Amolops monticola group and we describe a new species to science, Amolops spicalinea sp. nov., in reference to a line of horny spinules running along the body below the dorsolateral fold in males. The new species is morphologically and molecularly most similar to Amolops bellulus from Yunnan Province, China but is distinguished from A. bellulus and other congeneric species by a combination of the following characters: (1) SVL of adult males 46.6–52.2 mm, N=3; adult females 60.1–63.0 mm, N=3; (2) vomerine teeth in two oblique rows between choanae; (3) tympanic annulus visible; (4) all finger and toe tips expanded to discs with circummarginal grooves present; (5) skin smooth, except for lateral surfaces of head, below the dorsolateral fold, and the area surrounding cloaca where the texture varies from tiny spinules to large tubercles; (6) dorsolateral fold present with horny spinules along the lower half in males; (7) creamy-white lip stripe extending from tip of snout, terminating in a broken, rugose line above axilla; (8) dorsum reddish brown or greenish brown with numerous small black spots; flanks yellowish brown to dark brown; ventral surface of body orange-yellow with small brown spots present on chest and throat; (9) interdigital finger webbing absent; toes fully webbed to discs except on Toes IV where webbing reaches discs as a fringe, webbing formula: I0–0II0–0III0–1+IV1+–0V; (10) outer metatarsal tubercles absent; (11) vocal sac absent in males, and (12) nuptial pad velvety without spines. Our phylogenetic analysis using 16S ribosomal RNA mitochondrial gene and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) genes show that Amolops spicalinea sp. nov. is sister to Amolops bellulus 2 from Yunnan, China. The new species is currently known from only three localities in the Hoang Lien Range between 2288–2493 m asl and is threatened by habitat loss and degradation. This species likely qualifies for being assessed as Endangered in accordance with the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species categories and criteria (B1ab).

Amphibia, amphibians, anura, cascade frog, Fansipan, Nam Kang ho tao, Pu ta Leng

 Amolops spicalinea sp. nov. adult male holotype ITBCZ 3648.
(A) Dorsolateral view in life, (B) ventral view under sedation, (C) view of nuptial pad on first right finger under sedation, and (D), view of cloaca and base of thighs to illustrate glandular character under sedation. Not to scale.

Dorsolateral and ventral view of paratypes of Amolops spicalinea sp. nov. in life.
(A and B) adult male ITBCZ 3649, (C and D) adult male ITBCZ 3652,
(E and F) adult female ITBCZ 3650, and (g and h) adult female ITBCZ 3651.

 Amolops spicalinea sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Amolops spicalinea sp. nov. is placed within the Amolops monticola group based on the following morphological characters: Finger I shorter than Finger II; true dorsolateral folds present (not formed by incomplete series of glands); skin smooth; lateral sides of head dark, with light-colored upper lip stripe extending to shoulder (jiang et al. 2021; Patel et al. 2021; Stuart et al. 2010; wu et al. 2020). the new species can be diagnosed from congeneric  species  by  the  combination  of  the  following  characters:  (1)  SVL  of  adult  males  46.6–52.2  m, N=3; adult females 60.1–63.0 mm, N=3; (2) vomerine teeth in two oblique rows between choanae; (3) tympanic annulus visible; (4) all finger and toe tips expanded to discs with circummarginal grooves present; (5) skin smooth, except for lateral surfaces of head, below the dorsolateral fold, and the area surrounding cloaca where the texture varies from tiny spinules to large tubercles; (6) dorsolateral fold present with horny spinules along the lower half in males; (7) creamy-white lip stripe extends from the tip of the snout terminating in a broken, rugose line above axilla; (8) dorsum reddish brown or greenish brown with numerous small black spots; flank yellowish brown to dark brown; ventral surface orange-yellow with brown spots present on chest and throat; (9) interdigital finger webbing absent; toes fully webbed to discs except on toes IV where the webbing reaches the discs as a fringe, webbing formula: I0–0II0–0III0–1+IV1+–0V; (10) outer metatarsal tubercle absent; (11) males vocal sacs absent, and (12) nuptial pad velvety without spines.

 

Etymology: Specific epithet “spicalinea” from spica, the Latin word for a point or ear of grain and lineata, the Latin noun meaning line or thread in reference to the line of spinules running along the body, below the dorsolateral fold in males. We suggest common name as Hoang Lien cascade frog (English) and Ếch bám đá hoàng liên sơn (Vietnamese).

habitat of  Amolops spicalinea sp. nov. in the hoang Lien Range.
 (A) Collection site on Mount Nam Kang ho tao, Lao Cai Province, (B) Collection site on Mount Pu ta Leng, Lao Cai Province, (C) Male  Amolops spicalinea sp. nov. in situ ITBCZ 3649 on tree branch, 2.0 m above stream, Mount Pu ta Leng, Lao Cai Province.

Luan Thanh NGUYEN, Benjamin TAPLEY, Toi Van LA and Jodi J. L. ROWLEY. 2025. A New Species of Amolops monticola group (Amphibia: Ranidae) from Hoang Lien Range, northwest Vietnam. Zootaxa. 5594(3); 485-508. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5594.3.3 [2025-03-03]

[Herpetology • 2025] Amolops gudao • A New Species of the Genus Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from the Gaoligong Mountains, China

 

Amolops gudao  Yu, Wu, Lu & Che,  
 

in Wu, Yu, Kilunda, Lu, J.-H. Li, Y.-P. Li, Shi et Che. 2025. 

 Gudao Cascade Frog  | 古道湍蛙  ||  DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1227.131357

Abstract

The Gaoligong Mountains lie at the intersection of three global biodiversity hotspots. In recent years, with the continuous deepening of fieldwork in the region, studies have increasingly indicated that the amphibian diversity of this region remains poorly understood. During herpetological surveys in 2023, a series of Amolops specimens were collected from the Gaoligong Mountains of Yunnan Province, China. The integrated results of morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate the presence of a separate and previously unknown lineage in the A. viridimaculatus group, which we herein confirm as a new species, Amolops gudao Yu, Wu, Lu & Che, sp. nov. Our discovery increases the number of Amolops species recorded in China to 59, and the total number of Amolops species to 86. The discovery of a new species in the Gaoligong Mountains further highlights the underestimated amphibian diversity in the region, emphasizing the need for continued fieldwork and research. Furthermore, Amolops gudao Yu, Wu, Lu & Che, sp. nov. exhibits obvious intraspecific variation in color patterns, a phenomenon also reported in several species within the A. viridimaculatus group, such as A. viridimaculatus and A. kaulbacki. Future studies on the taxonomy of A. viridimaculatus group should be careful with the use of color patterns as a diagnostic characteristic.

Key words: Amolops viridimaculatus group, diversity, new species, phylogeny, sympatric species, Yunnan Province

Amolops gudao sp. nov.
Views of the holotype KIZ 053662 in life A lateral view B lateral view of head C ventral view D ventral view of the hand E ventral view of foot F habitat.

Photographs by Zhong-Bin Yu.

Morphological variation. Photographs of different individuals of Amolops gudao sp. nov. from the type locality, Baihualing, Longyang, Yunnan, showing
A KIZ 053663 (male) B KIZ 053664 (female) C KIZ 053665 (female).

Photographs by Zhong-Bin Yu.

 Amolops gudao Yu, Wu, Lu & Che, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The new species is recognized as a member of the A. viridimaculatus group based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and can be distinguished from its groups by a combination of the following characters (Suppl. material 3): (1) medium body size (SVL 56.7–58.6 mm in males and 63.6–64.8 mm in females); (2) vomerine teeth developed, on two short oblique between choanae, “八”-shaped, almost equal in distance from each other as to choanae; (3) supratympanic fold indistinct; (4) true dorsolateral folds absent, discontinuous glandular dorsolateral fold from rear of eye to near vent present; (5) tongue cordiform, 1/2 notched posteriorly; (6) maxillary teeth developed; (7) circummarginal grooves present on tips of outer three fingers, absent on first finger; (8) inner metacarpal tubercle rounded, outer metacarpal tubercle indistinct; (9) tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching the anterior corner of eye; (10) a black stripe below edge of the canthus rostralis extending from the nostril across the eyes, along dorsolateral glandular folds to near vent; (11) rictal gland absent; (12) iris distinctly bicolored, green in upper 1/4 and reddish brown in lower 3/4, black reticulations throughout; (13) vocal sac absent in males; (14) male with orange nuptial pad at the base of first finger.

Etymology Baihualing, where the new species occurs, lies on the historical passage of the famous Southern Silk Road. The specific epithet gudao is derived from the Chinese alternative name for the Southern Silk Road. 

We propose the English common name Gudao Cascade Frog and the Chinese common name Gǔ Dào Tuān Wā (古道湍蛙).

 Yun-He Wu, Zhong-Bin Yu, Felista Kasyoka Kilunda, Chen-Qi Lu, Jia-Hua Li, Yun-Peng Li, Yi-Juan Shi and Jing Che. 2025. A New Species of the Genus Amolops (Anura, Ranidae) from the Gaoligong Mountains, China. ZooKeys. 1227: 349-367. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1227.131357

[Herpetology • 2024] Amolops huanglianshanensis • A New Species of the Amolops monticola group (Anura: Ranidae) from southern Yunnan, China.

Amolops huanglianshanensis

 Liu, Hou, Mo, Lu, Guo, Wang, Zhang, Rao & Li, 2024.

Huanglianshan Cascade Frog | 黄连山湍蛙  ||  DOI: 10.1016/j.japb.2024.08.002 

 Researchgate.net/publication/384029819 

Abstract

A new species of the Amolops monticola group is described from Yunnan Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve, southern Yunnan, China. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by a moderate body size (snout–vent length 38.3–40.8 mm in adult males and 62.3–63.1 mm in adult females), head being longer than wide, nostril to snout tip distance being slightly smaller than eye to nostril distance, the presence of pineal body, distinct tympanum, vomerine teeth being invisible in males and weak but visible in females, distinct dorsolateral folds, the absence of outer metatarsal tubercle, the presence of vocal sac and nuptial pad in adult males, dorsal surface of head and body being green with no or a few black dots, and the presence of a few large flat white tubercles on the posterior inferior flank. Genetically, the uncorrected genetic distance between the new species and other species of the A. monticola group ranged from 3.0% to 7.6% in 16S ribosomal RNA and from 7.2% to 17.1% in NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene sequences. Currently, the new species is known only from its type locality in Lvchun County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China.

Keywords: 16S, cascade frog, morphology, ND2, taxonomy

Amolops huanglianshanensis sp. nov. in life.
Dorsolateral (A) and ventral (B) views of the male paratype (KIZ2023092),
dorsolateral (C) and ventral (D) views of the male paratype (KIZ2023093), and
dorsolateral (E) and ventral (F) views of the female paratype (KIZ2023098).

Amolops huanglianshanensis sp. nov. in life.
 Dorsal (A), lateral (B), and ventral (C) views of the male holotype (KIZ2023094), and
dorsal (D), lateral (E), and ventral (F) views of the female paratype (KIZ2023099) 

Amolops huanglianshanensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis. The new species is assigned to genus Amolops based on the presence of enlarged digital discs, circummarginal groove on the discs of fingers, well-developed webbing between toes, and the absence of webbing between fingers. It is further assigned to the A. monticola group based on having smooth skin, side of the head dark with a light-colored upper lip stripe extending to the axilla, and distinct dorsolateral folds. It can be distinguished from other species in the A. monticola group by having a combination of the following characters: Body size moderate, SVL 38.3–40.8 mm in adult males and 62.3–63.1 mm in adult females; head longer than wide; nostril to snout tip distance slightly smaller than eye to nostril distance; internarial distance greater than ...

Etymology. The specific epithet is named for the type locality Yunnan Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve. We suggest the English common name “Huanglianshan cascade frog” and the Chinese common name “黄连山湍蛙 (Pinyin: huáng lián shān tuān wā)”.

 

Shuo Liu, Mian Hou, Mingzhong Mo, Yi Lu, Jimin Guo, Wen Wang, Wenxiang Zhang, Dingqi Rao and Song Li. 2024. A New Species of the Amolops monticola group (Anura, Ranidae) from southern Yunnan, China. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. In Press. 

DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2024.08.002 

 Researchgate.net/publication/384029819_A_new_species_of_Amolops_from_southern_Yunnan_China

[Herpetology • 2024] Amolops yangi • A New Species of the Genus Amolops (Amphibia: Ranidae) and the first national record of Amolops vitreus from China

Amolops yangi Wu, Yu, Lu, Yuan & Che, 

in Wu, Yu, Lu, Zhang, Dong, Liu, Kilunda, Xiong, Jiang, Ouyang, Fu, He, Yuan et Che, 2024.

杨氏湍蛙  ||  DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e108013

Photos by Zhong-Bin Yu.

Abstract

The torrent frogs of the genus Amolops represent a great anuran diversification in southern China and Southeast Asia. Previous studies have shown that, the diversity of this genus still remains underestimated. During herpetological surveys from 2021 to 2022, several Amolops specimens were collected from the international border regions of southwestern Yunnan Province, China. Herein, we utilized molecular phylogenetic and morphological data to identify these specimens. Our findings indicate the presence of a separate and previously unknown lineage in the A. viridimaculatus group, which we formally describe as a new species. Furthermore, the specimen from Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve clustered with A. vitreus from the paratype, supporting the morphological diagnosis. Therefore, we describe a new species and a new species record for China. Our study contributes to the species richness of the genus Amolops as well as the diversity of amphibians in China. Notably, our discovery brings the total number of Amolops species to 85 and the total number of torrent frog species known to occur in China to 53. In addition, our study further confirmed that Yunnan and Indochina Peninsula have similar faunal composition, implying that more studies are needed to achieve a complete understanding of the species diversity and distribution pattern.

Key words: Amolops yangi sp. nov., Amolops vitreus, new species, new species record, Southwest border of China, Yunnan Province

Amolops yangi sp. nov. (Holotype KIZ 038643).
A Lateral view, B dorsal view, C ventral view of thighs, D ventral view of hand, E foot, F habitat.

Photos by Zhong-Bin Yu.

Amolops yangi Wu, Yu, Lu, Yuan & Che, sp. nov. 

 

Diagnosis: Amolops yangi sp. nov. is assigned to the genus Amolops based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) medium body size (SVL 46.3–51.8 mm in males and at least 51.5 mm in female); (2) vomerine teeth developed, on two short oblique between choanae, equal in distance from each other as to choanae; (3) supernumerary tubercles present at the base of each finger; (4) tympanum indistinct; (5) three metacarpal tubercles, inner metacarpal tubercle long, outer metacarpal tubercle relatively small, oval, median one rounded; (6) supratympanic fold indistinct; (7) discontinuous glandular dorsolateral fold from rear of eye to near vent; (8) circummarginal grooves present on tips of outer three fingers, absent on first finger; (9) iris distinctly bicolored, golden-yellow in upper one-fourth and reddish brown in lower three-fourths, black reticulations throughout; (10) rictal gland absent; (11) dorsal surface of the head, back, limbs, fingers, and toes green, interspersed with irregular black spots; (12) dorsal parts of limbs, fingers and toes with black crossbars; (13) vocal sac absent in males; (14) male with orange nuptial pad at the base of first finger.

 

Etymology: The specific epithet “yangi” is a patronymic noun in the genitive singular; derived from the name of Prof. Da-Tong Yang of the Kunming Institute of Zoology, CAS, China. We acknowledge his great contributions to the herpetological research in southwestern China. We suggest the Chinese formal name as “杨氏湍蛙”.

 Yun-He Wu, Zhong-Bin Yu, Chen-Qi Lu, Yin-Peng Zhang, Wen-Jie Dong, Xiao-Long Liu, Felista Kasyoka Kilunda, Yun Xiong, Yun-Fang Jiang, Hong Ouyang, Zhong-Xiong Fu, Yun-Biao He, Zhi-Yong Yuan and Jing Che. 2024. A New Species of the Genus Amolops (Amphibia: Ranidae) and the first national record of Amolops vitreus from China. Vertebrate Zoology. 74: 343-357. DOI: 10.3897/vz.74.e108013

[Herpetology • 2024] Amolops dafangensis • A New Species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from Guizhou Province, China

 

Amolops dafangensis 

 Li, Liu, Ke, Cheng & Wang, 2024

Dafang Cascade Frog | 大方湍蛙  ||  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1189.115621

 

Abstract

The Torrent frogs of the genus Amolops are widely distributed in Nepal and northern India eastwards to southern China and southwards to Malaysia. The genus currently contains 84 species. Previous studies indicated underestimated species diversity in the genus. In the context, a new species occurring from the mountains in the northwestern Guizhou Province, China is found and described based on morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses, Amolops dafangensis sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI genes supported the new species as an independent lineage. The uncorrected genetic distances between the 16S rRNA and COI genes in the new species and its closest congener were 0.7% and 2.6%, respectively, which are higher than or at the same level as those among many pairs of congeners. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: body size moderate (SVL 43.2–46.8 mm in males); head length larger than head width slightly; tympanum distinct, oval; vocal sacs absent; vomerine teeth present; dorsolateral folds weak formed by series of glands; nuptial pads present on the base of finger I; heels overlapping when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; tibiotarsal articulation reaching the level far beyond the tip of the snout when leg stretched forward.

Key words: Mitochondrial gene, taxonomy

Photographs of the holotype MT DF20230601002 of Amolops dafangensis sp. nov. in life
A dorsal view B ventral view C dorsal view of hand D ventral view of hand E ventral view of foot.

Color variation in Amolops dafangensis sp. nov.
A dorsolateral view of the male specimen MT DF20230601001 B dorsolateral view of the male specimen MT DF20230601003
C dorsolateral view of the juvenile specimen MT DF20230601004 D ventral view of the male specimen juvenile specimen MT DF20230601004

 Amolops dafangensis sp. nov.

Diagnosis: 

Amolops dafangensis sp. nov. resembles members of the A. mantzorum group in the absence of true dorsolateral folds and the presence of a circum-marginal groove on the disc of the first finger. The tarsal fold and tarsal glands are absent, and a nuptial pad is present on the first finger in males (Jiang et al. 2021).

Amolops dafangensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from other congeners by the following characters: (1) body size moderate (SVL 43.2 – 46.8 mm in males); (2) head length larger than head width slightly; (3) tympanum distinct, oval; (4) vocal sacs absent; (5) vomerine teeth present; (6) dorsolateral folds weak formed by series of glands; (7) nuptial pads present on base of finger I; (8) heels overlapping when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; tibiotarsal articulation reaching the level far beyond the tip of the snout when leg stretched forward.

Etymology: The specific epithet dafangensis refers to the distribution of this species, Dafang County, Guizhou Province, China. We propose the common English name “Dafang Cascade Frogs” for this species and Chinese name as “Da Fang Tuan Wa (大方湍蛙)”.

Shi-Ze Li, Jing Liu, Xiao-Cong Ke, Gang Cheng and Bin Wang. 2024. A New Species of Amolops (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae) from Guizhou Province, China. ZooKeys. 1189: 33-54.  DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1189.115621

[Herpetology • 2023] Odorrana confusa • Redefinition of the Odorrana versabilis Group (Anura: Ranidae), with A New Species from China

Odorrana confusa 

Song, Zhang, Qi, Lyu, Zeng, Zhu, Huang, Luan, Shu, Gong, Liu & Wang, 2023

Chebaling Bamboo-leaf Frog | 车八岭竹叶蛙  ||  DOI: 10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2023.0019

 

Abstract

Taxonomic studies of the Odorrana versabilis group have been consistently disorganized, and they have often been incorrectly associated with an abandoned subgenus or genus Bamburana in existing literature. In this study, we conducted an integrative taxonomic analysis using molecular phylogenetic analysis of two mitochondrial gene fragments (16S rRNA and CO1) and morphological examination of 41 specimens collected during herpetological surveys in southern China. Our results confirmed the monophyly of O. versabilis group which exhibited distinct morphological traits. We also identified a cryptic lineage sister with O. exiliversabilis. Additionally, our study revealed that O . trankieni was nested within O. nasuta. Consequently, we redefined the morphological characteristics of the O. versabilis group, described a new species in this group, O. confusa sp. nov., and proposed that O. trankieni be considered a junior synonym of O. nasuta. One of the most significant findings of this study was the observation of distinct morphological changes in adult males across all species within the O . versabilis group between the non-breeding and breeding seasons. This study contributes to research on various aspects of Asian amphibian fauna, including taxonomy, ecology, evolution, and physiology.

 

Keywords:  morphological changes, Odorrana confusa sp. nov., Odorrana nasuta, Odorrana trankieni, species group, taxonomic revision

Holotype of Odorrana confusa sp. nov. in life
on (A) dorsolateral view, (B) dorsal view, (C) ventral view, (D) head, (E) hand, (F) foot, (G) nuptial pad and (H) habitat.

Photos by Jian WANG and Shuo QI.

Odorrana confusa Song, Zhang, Qi, Lyu, Zeng and Wang sp. nov.

Rana versabilis — Ding et al., 1980; Zou, 1983.

Odorrana exiliversabilis — Fei et al., 2001.

Odorrana (Bamburana) exiliversabilis — Fei et al., 2005, 2009.

Odorrana versabilis — Rao et al., 2013; Li et al., 2018; Gong and Wu, 2020.

Bamburana versabilis — Yang et al., 2018.

 

Diagnosis: Odorrana confusa sp. nov. is distinguishable from its congeners based on the following combination of characteristics: (1) well-developed dorsolateral folds; (2) prominent morphological changes in adult males between the non-breeding and breeding seasons, during the breeding seasons, elongation of the snout beyond the lower jaw, lateral swelling of shoulder regions, dorsolateral fold swelling, and increased robustness of the forelimbs; (3) shagreened skin with occasional conical or sharp tubercles behind the sacrum, around dorsolateral folds, or on the rictal, temporal, and loreal regions, or the upper and lower lips; (4) tympanum distinct and round, not concave or just slightly concave, not forming an external auditory canal in both sexes; (5) tips of fingers expanding into disks; (6) edge of web on toe Ⅳ reaching the disk; (7) dorsal skin behind sacral vertebrae slightly smooth, with either no or few tubercles in both sexes; (8) flanks with messy stains and numerous tubercles; (9) rictal glands and lower jaws of adult male with numerous prominent white conical spinules, especially during breeding seasons; and (10) body size large, with the SVL of adult males and females averaging 68.5 mm (64.4‒72.5 mm) and 70.9 mm (67.0‒73.9 mm), respectively.

Etymology: The specific name, confusa, is derived from the feminine form of the Latin adjective “confusus,” meaning “confused” or “mixed.” This refers to the chronical taxonomic confusion of this newly discovered species with the Odorrana exiliversabilis .

Suggested common name: “Chebaling bamboo-leaf frog” in English and “车八岭竹叶蛙 (chē bā lǐng zhú yè wā)” in Chinese.

Distribution: The phylogenetic and morphological findings suggested that Odorrana confusa sp. nov. is endemic to China, specifically in Chebaling, Mt Nankun and Mt Longtou in Guangdong, Mt Jinpen in Jiangxi, and Mt Daiyun in Fujian (Figure S1). Further research is required to better understand the precise distribution of this species.

Morphological comparisons of adult males of
(A) Odorrana confusa sp. nov., (B) O. exiliversabilis, (C) O. nasuta and (D) O. versabilis between (1) the non-breeding season and (2) the breeding season in life.

Photos by Yingyong WANG, Jian WANG, Zhaochi ZENG, Zhitong LYU, and Yongheng ZHU.

Six species of Odorrana versabilis group in life.
(A) Odorrana confusa sp. nov., (B) O. exiliversabilis, (C) O . nasuta, (D) O. tormota, SYS a002708, (E) O. versabilis and (F) O . yentuensis.

 Photos by Yingyong WANG, Shuo QI, Zhitong LYU, and Yongheng ZHU.

Odorrana versabilis group 

Odorrana nasuta Li, Ye and Fei, 2001

 Revision of Odorrana exiliversabilis 

Odorrana exiliversabilis Li, Ye and Fei, 2001

Etymology: The specific name, exiliversabilis, is derived from the combination of “exili-” and “versabilis,” indicating that this species is smaller in body size than Odorrana versabilis.

Suggested common name: “Little Bamboo-leaf Frog” in English and “小竹叶蛙 (xiǎo zhú yè wā)” in Chinese.

Hanming SONG, Siyu ZHANG, Shuo QI, Zhitong LYU, Zhaochi ZENG, Yongheng ZHU, Minghai HUANG, Fuchen LUAN, Zufei SHU, Yuening GONG, Zhifa LIU and Yingyong WANG. 2023. Redefinition of the Odorrana versabilis Group, with A New Species from China (Anura, Ranidae, Odorrana). Asian Herpetological Research. DOI: 10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2023.0019

[Herpetology • 2022] Amolops chanakya & A. tawang • Two New Species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India under the morphological ‘Viridimaculatus species group'

Amolops tawang  

Saikia, Laskar, Dinesh, Shabnam & Sinha, 2022

तवांग झरना मेेंढक  ||  RecordsofZSI.com/index.php/zsoi/article/view/169417

Photo: Bikramjit Sinha

Abstract

With the descriptions of a large number of Amolops species in the last two decades, the historical reports of Amolops species from India are in a state of flux, resulting in doubts regarding the specific identities of many species of this genus from the country. Due to their morphological crypticity, species belonging to Amolops are most often difficult to identify based only on morphological characters and colour alone. In the recent years, a number of species of this genus have either been described or reported from India, based on both morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies, like Amolops aniqiaoensis, A. adicola, A. indoburmanensis, etc. Herein, we are describing two new species of Amolops, namely Amolops chanakya sp. nov. and Amolops tawang sp. nov. from western Arunachal Pradesh that belong to the morphological ‘Viridimaculatus species group’ based on a combination of morphological character data sets, genetic studies, and geographical distribution.

Keywords: Amolops chanakya sp. nov., Amolops tawang sp. nov., Cascade Frogs, Chanakya, Cryptic Species, Dirang, Eastern Himalaya, Tawang

Class AMPHIBIA Linnaeus, 1758 

Order ANURA Dumeril, 1806 

Family RANIDAE Batsch, 1796 

Genus Amolops Cope, 1865 

Amolops chanakya sp. nov. 

(Chanakya’s Cascade Frog)

 

Diagnosis: Amolops chanakya sp. nov. is a member of the morphological Viridimaculatus species group isolated in geographical space from its phylogenetic sister species and has a distinct set of morphological characters. The new species can be diagnosed based on the following set of morphological characters: adult male size large (SVL 76.4 mm); head wider than long (HW>HL); snout rounded, longer than eye length (SL>EL); inter-orbital distance less than both upper eyelid width and inter-narial distance (IUEFOL>ShL), about 2/3rd of SVL; tibio-tarsal articulation reaches up to the nostril; supra-tympanic fold strong; single row of discontinuous roundish tubercles dorso-laterally.

Natural history: The holotype was collected after the dusk hours from a small hill stream from Chakpa village. 

Distribution: Known from its type locality of Chakpa Village, Dirang Administrative Circle, West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. 

 

Etymology: The species epithet is a patronym named after Chanakya (also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta), a 4th century BCE Indian polymath and administrator famous for Arthashastra, a Sanskrit treatise on economic policies, statecraft and military strategy. The species epithet is treated as a noun in apposition to the generic name. 

Suggested Common Name: We suggest Chanakya’s cascade frog as a common English name and चाणक्य झरना मेंढक as a common Hindi name for this species. 

Live colour image of holotype of Amolops tawang sp. nov. 

(Photo: Bikramjit Sinha).

Amolops tawang sp. nov. 

(Tawang Cascade Frog)

Diagnosis: Amolops tawang sp. nov. is a member of the morphological Viridimaculatus species group isolated in geographical space from its phylogenetic sister species having a distinct morphological set of characters. The new species can be diagnosed based on the following set of morphological characters: adult male size large (SVL 82.5 mm); head wider than long (HW>HL); snout rounded, snout longer than eye length (SL>EL); inter-orbital distance equals the upper eyelid width but smaller than the inter-narial distance (IUE=UEWShL), about 2/3rd of SVL; tibio-tarsal articulation reaches up to snout; supra-tympanic fold strong; dorso-lateral skin granular.

Natural history: The lone specimen of A. tawang sp. nov. was collected during the mid-day from a torrential hill stream with low water volume, which was characterised by large boulders. The specimen was resting under a boulder in a shallow trickle of water. A single specimen of Nanorana liebigii was also collected from the same habitat. 

Distribution: Currently, this species is known only from its type locality in Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India.   

Etymology: The species epithet is a toponym named after the district Tawang, from where the type was collected. Located in the westernmost part of Arunachal Pradesh, Tawang is renowned for Tawang Monastery, which is the largest in India as well as being the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso. The species epithet is treated as a noun in apposition to the generic name. Suggested 

Common Name: We suggest Tawang cascade frog as a common English name and तवांग झरना मेेंढक as a common Hindi name for this species.  

Bhaskar Saikia, Mostaque A. Laskar, K. P. Dinesh, A. Shabnam and Bikramjit Sinha. 2022. Description of Two New Species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India under the morphological ‘Viridimaculatus species group'. Rec. zool. Surv. India. 122(3); 247–266. DOI: 10.26515/rzsi/v122/i3/2022/169417

 RecordsofZSI.com/index.php/zsoi/article/view/169417

  RecordsofZSI.com/index.php/zsoi/issue/current

[Herpetology • 2019] Amolops ottorum • A New Species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from Vietnam

 Amolops ottorum 

Pham, Sung, Pham, Le, Ziegler & Nguyen, 2019 

 Son La Sucker Frog | Ếch bám đá sơn la  ||  LKCNHM.nus.edu.sg/rbz/volume-67 

Abstract

 A new species of Amolops is described from northwestern Vietnam based on morphological differences and molecular divergence. Morphologically, Amolops ottorum, new species, is distinguishable from its congeners on the basis of a combination of the following diagnostic characters: size small (SVL 47.5–48.2 mm in females); head longer than wide; vomerine teeth absent; snout short (SE/SVL 0.14–0.15); tympanum dark brown, small (TD/ ED 0.36–0.37 in females); skin smooth; supratympanic fold absent; dorsolateral fold absent; webbing formula I 0―1/3 II 0―1 III 0―1 IV 2―0 V; in life, dorsum green with some dark brown spots; flanks with irregular dark markings; head and body with irregular dorsolateral cream stripe; dorsal surface of fore and hind limbs green with dark crossbars; throat, chest, anterior part of belly light-cream with brown dots; and posterior part of belly cream. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species is weakly supported as a sister taxon of Amolops tuberodepressus, and approximately 5.6% divergent from it based on a fragment of the cytochrome b gene. 

Key words. Amolops, molecular phylogeny, Muong La, new species, Son La Province, taxonomy

  Dorsolateral view (A) and ventral view (B) of the female holotype (IEBR 4243) of  Amolops ottorum, new species, in life.

Photo = A. V. Pham.

Dorsolateral view of the female paratype (TBU 06) of Amolops ottorum, new species, in life.

Photo = A. V. Pham.

Amolops ottorum, new species

Diagnosis. The new Amolops species from Son La Province is assigned to the A. mantzorum species group on the basis of the following characters: the absence of a dorsolateral fold and the absence of circummarginal groove on the disc of the first finger (Fei et al., 2009, 2017). The new species is also supported as a member of the A. mantzorum species group based on the molecular analyses (Fig. 2). Amolops ottorum, new species is distinguishable from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) size small (SVL 47.5–48.2 mm in females); (2) head longer than wide; (3) vomerine teeth absent; (4) snout short (SE/ SVL 0.14–0.15); (5) tympanum dark brown, small (TD/ED 0.36–0.37 in females); (6) skin smooth; (7) supratympanic fold absent; (8) dorsolateral fold absent; (9) webbing formula I 0–1/3 II 0–1 III 0–1 IV 2–0 V; (10) in life, dorsum green with some dark brown spots; (11) flanks with irregular dark markings; (12) head and body with irregular dorsolateral cream stripe; (13) dorsal surface of fore and hind limbs green with dark crossbars; (14) throat, chest and anterior part of belly light-cream with brown dots, posterior part of belly cream.

Distribution. Amolops ottorum, new species is currently known only from the type locality in Muong La District, Son La Province, Vietnam (Fig. 1). 

Etymology. The species name, ottorum, is the plural possessive form of Mrs Otti Ziegler and Mr Otto Ziegler, who facilitated herpetological research collaborations between Vietnam and Germany. For the common names we suggest Son La Sucker Frog (English) and Ếch bám đá sơn la (Vietnamese). 

Ecological notes. The holotype was collected at 1905 hours on leaves, ca. 1.5 m above the ground and the paratype was collected at 500 hours on a rock nearby a stream. The surrounding habitat was secondary forest of medium and large hardwoods mixed with shrubs (Fig. 6). Air temperature was 17–22°C and relative humidity was 80–85%. Other amphibian species found at the site were Leptobrachium sp., Leptobrachella sp., Quasipaa delacouri (Angel), Odorrana jingdongensis Fei, Ye & Li, and Kurixalus bisacculus (Taylor).

Anh Van Pham, Nenh Ba Sung, Cuong The Pham, Minh Duc Le, Thomas Ziegler and Truong Quang Nguyen. 2019. A New Species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from Vietnam. RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 67: 363–377. lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/publications/raffles-bulletin-of-

zoology/volumes/volume-67 

   

[Herpetology • 2023] Amolops attiguus, A. kottelati, A. sengae & A. tanfuilianae • Systematics of the Lao Torrent Frog, Amolops cremnobatus Inger & Kottelat, 1998 (Anura: Ranidae), with Descriptions of Four New Species

Amolops tanfuilianae, A. sengae 
 A. kottelati, A. attiguus 

Sheridan, Phimmachak, Sivongxay & Stuart, 2023

ຂຽດເກາະຜາລາວ  ||  DOI: 10.3897/vz.73.e102475

Abstract

The Lao torrent frog Amolops cremnobatus Inger & Kottelat, 1998 was recently hypothesized, based on mitochondrial DNA, to consist of more than a single species across its range in Laos and flanking regions of Vietnam and Thailand. We tested this hypothesis using mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA, and quantitative and qualitative morphological data from adults and larvae. We found corroborating lines of evidence for five distinct evolutionary lineages that we hypothesize to be species. Amolops cremnobatus sensu stricto is restricted to the southeastern portion of its previous range, and remaining populations are described as four new species. Some of the new species are easier to diagnose with morphology as larvae than as adults. Further sampling in northern Thailand may reveal an additional species of this torrent frog complex.

Keywords: Amphibians, frogs, morphology, phylogeny, Southeast Asia, tadpoles

Photos in life. A Amolops cremnobatus, B A. tanfuilianae sp. nov., C A. sengae sp. nov., D A. kottelati sp. nov., E A. attiguus sp. nov.

Amolops cremnobatus Inger & Kottelat, 1998

Suggested Common Names: Inger’s Lao torrent frog (English), 

ຂຽດເກາະຜາລາວອິງເກີ (Khiat Korpha Lao Inger; Lao).

Amolops tanfuilianae sp. nov.

Suggested Common Names: Fui Lian’s Lao torrent frog (English), 

ຂຽດເກາະຜາລາວຟຸຍຫຼຽນ (Khiat Korpha Lao Fui Lian; Lao).

Diagnosis: A member of the Amolops larutensis group having the combination of 3–4 vomerine teeth reliably present; relative finger lengths I<II<IV<III; mean ± SE SVL of adult males 32.2 ± 1.5 mm (range 28.0–35.3 mm; n = 51) and of adult females 40.0 ± 1.8 (range 35.0–43.1; n = 47); tadpoles with glands near groin in individuals above S30; tadpoles with BL 15.9 ± 2.8 mm (range 12.9–21.5 mm); and tadpoles with BH 5.9 ± 1.1 mm (range 4.6–8.0; n = 16).

Etymology: The specific epithet is a matronym for Tan Fui Lian, Malaysian herpetologist, illustrator of the holotype of A. cremnobatus (figure 1 of Inger and Kottelat 1998), and wife of the late Robert F. Inger who led the description of A. cremnobatus. Fui Lian’s scientific contributions and her generous hospitality to us and innumerable visitors to the Field Museum of Natural History have had immeasurable positive impacts on Southeast Asian herpetology.

Amolops kottelati sp. nov.

Suggested Common Names: Kottelat’s Lao torrent frog (English); 

ຂຽດເກາະຜາລາວກົດເຕີລັດ (Khiat Korpha Lao Kottelat; Lao).

Diagnosis: A member of the Amolops larutensis group having the combination of 3–4 vomerine teeth reliably present; relative finger lengths I<IV<II<III; mean ± SE SVL of adult males 33.3–35.0 mm (n = 2) and of adult females 39.0 ± 1.8 (range 38.0–41.7 mm; n = 4); and tadpoles with BL 17.0 ± 0.2 mm (range 16.8–17.1 mm; n = 3).

Etymology: The specific epithet is a patronym for Maurice Kottelat, Swiss ichthyologist and specialist of the Indochinese fish fauna, collector and co-describer of the types of A. cremnobatus, and collector of the larvae of the new species. Kottelat’s larval collections proved invaluable for the present study, exemplified by A. kottelati sp. nov. being most readily diagnosed by its larval characters.

Amolops sengae sp. nov.

Suggested Common Names: Seng’s Lao torrent frog (English),

 ຂຽດເກາະຜາລາວແສງ (Khiat Korpha Lao Seng; Lao), เขียดเกาะผาลาว, 

กบลายหินเมืองน่าน.

Diagnosis: A member of the Amolops larutensis group having the combination of 2–3 vomerine teeth, sometimes faint or absent; relative finger lengths I <IV<II <III; spinose glands above the arm absent; mean ± SE SVL of adult males 29.8 ± 1.5 mm (range 27.2–31.2 mm; n = 5) and of females 39.2–39.6 mm (n = 2); SNT 4.9 ± 0.3 mm (range 4.4–5.2 mm) in males and 5.2–5.8 mm in females; FTL 14.3 ± 0.7 mm (range 13.1–15.1 mm) in males and 18.4–19.1 mm in females; HND 8.7 ± 0.9 mm (range 7.3–9.6 mm) in males and 11.8–12.0 mm in females; and SHK 17.7 ± 0.9 mm (range 16.2–18.4 mm) in males and 24.0–24.5 mm in females.

Etymology: The specific epithet is a matronym for Sengvilay (“Seng”) Seateun of the National University of Laos, co-collector of much of the new material described here, major contributor to the herpetology of Laos, native of Xaignabouli Province that is home to the type locality of the new species, and cherished friend and colleague of the authors.

Distribution and natural history: This species is known from clear streams with torrents from Vientiane Province, Laos westward across the Mekong River into Xaignabouli Province, Laos. A population from Nan Province, Thailand, is provisionally referred to this species.

Amolops attiguus sp. nov.

Suggested Common Names: Similar Lao torrent frog (English), 

ຂຽດເກາະຜາລາວແອດທີກຸສ (Khiat Korpha Lao Sumphan; Lao).

Diagnosis: A member of the Amolops larutensis group having the combination of 2–3 vomerine teeth, sometimes faint or absent; relative finger lengths I <IV<II <III; mean ± SE SVL of adult males 30.2 ± 0.9 mm (range 28.9–31.3 mm; n = 5) and of females 39.2–39.4 mm (n = 2); EYE 4.7 ± 0.3 mm (range 4.1–4.8 mm) in males and 5.3–6.1 mm in females; TEY 0.7 ± 0.1 mm (range 0.5–0.9 mm) in males and 1.1–1.3 mm in females; SNT 4.1 ± 0.1 mm (range 4.5–4.7 mm) in males and 5.4–5.5 mm in females; and FTL 15.8 ± 0.7 mm (range 15.0–16.8 mm) in males and 18.6–18.7mm in females.

Etymology: The specific epithet taken from attigua (L.) for neighboring or adjacent, in reference to the new species’ nested geographic distribution between its morphologically similar relatives A. tanfuilianae sp. nov. and A. kottelati sp. nov. (Fig. 1).

 Jennifer A. Sheridan, Somphouthone Phimmachak, Niane Sivongxay and Bryan L. Stuart. 2023. Systematics of the Lao Torrent Frog, Amolops cremnobatus Inger & Kottelat, 1998 (Anura: Ranidae), with Descriptions of Four New Species. Vertebrate Zoology. 73: 931-956. DOI: 10.3897/vz.73.e102475