[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 • 2024] Oreolalax adelphos • A New Oreolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from the Hoang Lien Range, northwest Vietnam

  Oreolalax adelphos

Nguyen, Tapley, Kane, Tran, Cui & Rowley, 2024

Mount Po Ma Lung Toothed Toad  ||  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5514.6.1 

 facebook.com/ZSLEDGEofEXistence

 

Abstract

The megophryid genus Oreolalax is comprised of 19 species, most of which are endemic to China. A single species, Oreolalax sterlingae, is the only member of the genus known from Vietnam. During fieldwork on Mount Po Ma Lung in the Hoang Lien Range of northwest Vietnam, we encountered individuals of both Oreolalax sterlingae and another, morphologically divergent species of Oreolalax. Analyses of morphological and molecular data reveal that these individuals represent a previously undescribed species of Oreolalax which we describe as new to science. The new species, Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov., is sister to Oreolalax xiangchengensis and can be diagnosed from all other congeneric species by the combination of the following characters: (1) SVL of adult male 38.0 mm, N=1; adult female 46.2 mm, N=1; (2) narrow supratympanic fold; (3) no visible tympanum; (4) head longer than wide; (5) vocal sac absent; (6) absence of subarticular tubercles on hands; (7) basal interdigital webbing on hind feet; (8) ventral surface mottled with grey and creamy white; (9) dorsal surface of head and body covered in rounded, evenly spaced and similar sized tubercles; (10) presence of dark bars on limbs; (11) greyish white and creamy white spots on the flanks, and (12) a bicoloured iris. Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov. is only known from a single site of high elevation bamboo forest, where it is sympatric with Oreolalax sterlingae. Both Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov. and O. sterlingae are almost certain to occur in neighbouring Jinping County in Yunnan Province, China. The new species of Oreolalax likely qualifies for being assessed as Data Deficient in accordance with the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species categories and criteria.

Amphibian, China, Leptobrachiinae, Po Ma Lung, taxonomy

  Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov.

Luan Thanh Nguyen,  Benjamin Tapley, Daniel Kane, Tuyet-Dzung Thi Tran, Jiaxin Cui and Rowley J. L. Rowley. 2024. A New Oreolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from the Hoang Lien Range, northwest Vietnam.  Zootaxa. 5514(6); 501-524. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5514.6.1

  facebook.com/ZSLEDGEofEXistence/posts/953459440157853

[Herpetology • 2024] Systematics and Taxonomy of the Northern Banjo Frog (Anura: Limnodynastidae: Limnodynastes terraereginae) and Allied Taxa

 the Northern Banjo Frog (Limnodynastes terraereginae) and Allied Taxa

in Parkin, Rowley, Gillard, Sopniewski, Shea & Donnellan, 2024

 DOI: 10.1643/h2023025 

 twitter.com/IchsAndHerps

Abstract

The Australian banjo frogs are a distinctive group of medium to large, terrestrial, and burrowing limnodynastid frogs known for their conspicuous, single-note advertisement calls which are often likened to the pluck of a banjo string. Preliminary analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences had previously indicated that the present taxonomy of the group, based primarily on morphology and advertisement calls, may not best reflect the true evolutionary relationships among taxa. In this study, we use comprehensive geographic sampling and integrative analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences, nuclear single-nucleotide polymorphisms, adult morphology, and advertisement call data to re-evaluate the systematics and taxonomy of the Northern Banjo Frog (Limnodynastes terraereginae) and allied taxa. Our study reveals the presence of three evolutionarily distinct, morphologically divergent, and narrowly allopatric lineages that replace each other in a north–south series from the tip of Cape York Peninsula to the Sydney Basin in the south. Our findings demonstrate that our understanding of the systematics and taxonomy of Australian frogs remains incomplete, even for large and apparently “well-known” species that live in densely populated areas.

Distribution of genotyped samples for the eastern Australian Limnodynastes dorsalis group examined in this study. Purple circles = CYP lineage; red circles = WS lineage; green circles = EC lineage; gray circles = L. dumerilii (including all subspecies); and black circles = L. interioris. Surface hydrology in blue.

 

Tom Parkin, Jodi J. L. Rowley, Grace L. Gillard, Jarrod Sopniewski, Glenn M. Shea and Stephen C. Donnellan. 2024. Systematics and Taxonomy of the Northern Banjo Frog (Anura: Limnodynastidae: Limnodynastes terraereginae) and Allied Taxa. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 112(1); 76-105. DOI: 10.1643/h2023025

  twitter.com/IchsAndHerps/status/1772323038563856856

[Herpetology • 2024] Systematic Assessment of the Brown Tree Frog (Anura: Pelodryadidae: Litoria ewingii) reveals Two endemic Species in South Australia; Litoria azuroscelis & L. sibilus

Litoria sibilus  

Parkin, Rowley, Elliott-Tate, Mahony, Sumner, Melville & Donnellan, 2024

Kangaroo Island Tree Frog  ||  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5406.1.1

 australian.museum

 

Abstract

The brown tree frog (Litoria ewingii) is a relatively widespread, commonly encountered pelodryadid frog from south-eastern Australia, known for its characteristic whistling call. The distribution of Litoria ewingii spans over more than 350,000 km2, encompassing a range of moist temperate habitats, and is fragmented by well-known biogeographic barriers. A preliminary analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed evidence for deep phylogenetic structure between some of these fragmented populations. In this study, we sought to re-evaluate the systematics and taxonomy of Litoria ewingii sensu lato by analysing variation in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, adult morphology and male advertisement calls throughout the species’ range. Our analyses reveal two additional, deeply divergent and allopatric lineages in South Australia. We herein re-describe Litoria ewingii from Tasmania, southern New South Wales, Victoria and south-eastern South Australia, resurrect the name Litoria calliscelis for a species occurring in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia, and describe a new species, Litoria sibilus sp. nov., endemic to Kangaroo Island.

Key words: mtDNA, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, biogeography, Kangaroo Island, Murray River Basin

Images in life of Litoria sibilus sp. nov.
A–E  unvouchered  individuals  (Mark  Sanders). A)  Parndana, central Kangaroo Island; B) Parndana, central Kangaroo Island, C) Vivonne Bay, southern Kangaroo Island; D) hindfoot of individual in A; E) hand of individual A;
F–G unvouchered individuals, Kangaroo Island (Department of Environment and Water, South Australian Government).

Litoria sibilus sp. nov. 

Suggested common name: Kangaroo Island Tree Frog

Diagnosis. Litoria sibilus is diagnosable from all other members of the L. ewingii group by a combination of (1) adult body size 25–34 mm for males and 28–43 mm for females, (2) moderately robust build, (3) pads wider than fingers (mean Fin3W/Fin3DW = 0.6) and toes (mean Toe4W/Toe4DW = 0.7), (4) webbing on hands vestigial but relatively well-developed on the feet (extending to the 1st subarticular tubercle on the 4th toe [see Fig 8, Type B]), (5) posterior edge of thigh orange-pink, usually patterned with dark spots and blotches (n= 26/27), occasionally plain (n=1/27), (6) dark spots or blotches in inguinal region usually absent (n=23/27), sometimes a single spot may be present right at the junction of the thigh and body (n=4/27), (7) genetically by apomorphic nucleotide states at 15 sites in the ND4 gene. Diagnoses of Litoria sibilus and the other species described herein are presented in Table 8 for ease of comparison.

Etymology. The specific epithet, sibilus, is a masculine Latin 2nd declension noun meaning whistle or hiss. It is used in apposition to the genus name.

Tom Parkin, Jodi J. L. Rowley, Jessica Elliott-Tate, Michael J. Mahony, Joanna Sumner, Jane Melville and Steve C. Donnellan. 2024. Systematic Assessment of the Brown Tree Frog (Anura: Pelodryadidae: Litoria ewingii) reveals Two endemic Species in South Australia.  Zootaxa. 5406(1); 1-36. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5406.1.1

 australian.museum/blog/amri-news/whistling-frogs/

  twitter.com/FrogIDAus/status/1753241972796538996 

[Herpetology • 2023] Litoria ridibunda • Revision of Litoria rothii (Anura: Pelodryadidae) from northern Australia

 Litoria ridibunda

Donnellan, Catullo, Rowley, Doughty, Price, Hines & Richards, 2023

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5352.1.3 

 australian.museum 

  facebook.com/JodiRowley

Abstract

Litoria rothii is a widespread pelodryadid frog with a charismatic “laughing” advertisement call, distributed across the Australian Monsoon Tropics and southern New Guinea. Given its large distribution spanning well-known biogeographic barriers, variation in male advertisement calls and the prevalence of unresolved species complexes in the Australian frog fauna, we examine the genetic, morphological and acoustic diversity in the species from across its range. Our analyses reveal the presence of a previously unrecognised species in western parts of the range of L. rothii sensu lato, which we describe herein as a new species. Litoria ridibunda sp. nov. is distinguished from L. rothii on the basis of paraphyly of nuclear gene trees with L. everetti from Indonesia, colour patterns on the posterior thigh and male advertisement calls. Compared to L. rothii, the new species has a less contrasting pattern on the posterior thigh and a male advertisement call with a greater number of notes per call and a greater call duration. In particular, the magnitude of call differences between the species is highest where the ranges of the two species are in proximity in north-western Queensland. Our study further emphasises the undiagnosed diversity that remains in Australian frogs, even in relatively large, charismatic, frequently encountered species that often share human dwellings.

Keywords: Amphibia, frog, single nucleotide polymorphisms, mitochondrial DNA, taxonomy, Carpentarian Gap 

Litoria ridibunda  

 Western Laughing Tree Frog  

S.C. Donnellan, R.A. Catullo, J.J.L. Rowley, P. Doughty, L. Price, H.B. Hines and S.J. Richards. 2023. Revision of Litoria rothii (Anura: Pelodryadidae) from northern Australia.  Zootaxa. 5352(1); 73-108. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5352.1.3

  facebook.com/JodiRowley/posts/10159377834420952

  australian.museum/blog/amri-news/funnier-than-the-original

[Herpetology • 2023] Geocrinia sparsiflora • Phylogeography, Hybrid Zones and Contemporary Species Boundaries in the South-eastern Australian Smooth Frogs (Anura: Myobatrachidae: Geocrinia)

Geocrinia sparsiflora

Parkin, Donnellan, Parkin, Shea & Rowley, 2023

DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107934 

australian.museum/blog

 

Highlights

• We observed patterns of divergence, secondary contact and mitonuclear discordance in the Australian smooth frog (Geocrinia) complex consistent with contraction and expansion of species’ ranges through glacial cycles.

• Our admixture analyses provide new insight into the dynamics of a comprehensively studied hybrid zone, confirming it is narrow (9–30 km wide), has remained spatiotemporally stable within an ecotone for > 50 years, and is likely influenced by female mate-choice bias.

• We describe an evolutionarily distinct, range-restricted taxon endemic to the Otway Plains and Ranges, south-western Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

Paleo-climatic fluctuations have driven episodic changes in species distributions, providing opportunities for populations to diverge in isolation and hybridise following secondary contact. Studies of phylogeographic diversity and patterns of gene flow across hybrid zones can provide insight into contemporary species boundaries and help to inform taxonomic and conservation inferences. Here we explore geographic diversity within the acoustically divergent yet morphologically conserved south-eastern Australian smooth frog complex and assess gene flow across a narrow hybrid zone using mitochondrial nucleotide sequences and nuclear genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms. Our analyses reveal the presence of an evolutionarily distinct taxon restricted to the Otway Plains and Ranges, Victoria, which forms a narrow (9–30 km wide), spatiotemporally stable (>50 years) hybrid zone with Geocrinia laevis, which we describe herein as a new species.

 

 Keywords: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms, DArTseq, Mitonuclear discordance, Morphology, Bioacoustics, Taxonomy

Geocrinia sparsiflora

Thomas Parkin, Stephen C. Donnellan, Benjamin Parkin, Glenn M. Shea and Jodi J.L. Rowley. 2023. Phylogeography, Hybrid Zones and Contemporary Species Boundaries in the South-eastern Australian Smooth Frogs (Anura: Myobatrachidae: Geocrinia). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 189, 107934. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107934

  australian.museum/blog/amri-news/smooth-operators 

[Herpetology • 2022] Delma vescolineata • A New Species of Delma Gray 1831 (Squamata: Pygopodidae) from the Hunter Valley and Liverpool Plains of New South Wales

 Delma vescolineata 

 Mahony, Cutajar & Rowley, 2022

 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5162.5.5 

australian.museum 

 twitter.com/SVMahony 

 

Abstract

The Striped Legless Lizard Delma impar Fischer 1882 occurs in grasslands of south-eastern Australia where it is sometimes sympatric with several congeners. Previous molecular analyses have revealed mitochondrial divergence between the northern and southern lineages of D. impar, but the status of a recently detected population assigned to the species in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales (NSW), 250 km north of other populations, remains unknown. Via morphological and molecular analyses across the known distribution of D. impar, we distinguish the population from the Hunter Valley, Liverpool Plains region as a unique taxon and describe this species as Delma vescolineata sp. nov. The new species is divergent from D. impar in both nuclear and mitochondrial analysis, and differing facial scalation and colour patterning from the limited number of specimens available. The degree of mitochondrial and nuclear divergence between the previously identified northern and southern clades of D. impar is consistent with a single species. This is the first description of a Delma from south-eastern Australia since 1974, but the second new vertebrate taxon identified from the Hunter Valley region within a decade. Our research highlights our incomplete understanding of the biodiversity of the Hunter Valley region, despite its relative proximity to populous areas. The range of D. vescolineata sp. nov. is restricted and heavily overlaps with major habitat modification including mining and grazing, with no parks or reserves in this distribution protecting the species’ grassland habitat. Gathering more data to understand conservation status of this species should be a priority.

Reptilia, Delma impar, Delma vescolineata sp. nov., mtDNA, single nucleotide polymorphisms, phylogenetic analysis, grasslands, Reptilia, Australia

Delma vescolineata sp. nov.

   Stephen Mahony, Timothy Cutajar and Jodi J. L. Rowley. 2022. A New Species of Delma Gray 1831 (Squamata: Pygopodidae) from the Hunter Valley and Liverpool Plains of New South Wales.  Zootaxa. 5162(5); 541-556. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5162.5.5 

 twitter.com/SVMahony/status/1546285952259477505

A New South Wales first! New species of legless lizard discovered in the Hunter Valley

 australian.museum/blog/amri-news/a-new-south-wales-first-new-species-of-legless-lizard

[Herpetology • 2021] Leptobrachella graminicola • A New Species of Leptobrachella (Anura, Megophryidae) from Mount Pu Ta Leng, northwest Vietnam

Leptobrachella graminicola

 Nguyen, Tapley, Nguyen, Luong & Rowley, 2021

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5016.3.1

  Researchgate.net/publication/353738105 

Abstract

The Hoang Lien Range in northwest Vietnam is known to harbour five species of Leptobrachella, a specious genus of terrestrial frogs. We collected specimens of Leptobrachella from Mount Pu Ta Leng on the second highest peak in the Hoang Lien Range and use morphological and molecular data to show that this population represents a previously undescribed species which we name Leptobrachella graminicola sp. nov. after the abundance of calling males on sedge-like plants. This new species is closely related to L. bourreti but the new species is distinguished from L. bourreti and other congeneric species by a combination of the following characters: (1) a body size range of 23.1–24.6 mm in six adult males and 28.6–32.9 mm in five adult females; (2) skin on dorsum smooth, with many tubercles and lacking dermal ridges; (3) toes with rudimentary webbing and broad lateral fringes; (4) belly white with brown spots; (5) throat dark brown with light grey-brown flecks and spots; (6) a row of large white spots on the outer edge of the tarsus extending from the heel to the inner metatarsal tubercle, sometimes forming a long white stripe; and (7) a bicoloured iris. The new, high-elevation species is likely to be range-restricted and threatened by habitat loss and the activities of tourists.

Keywords: Amphibian, Frog, Hoang Lien, Leptobrachiinae, Leptolalax

Figure 3. Dorsolateral view of Leptobrachella graminicola sp. nov. in life
 (A) adult male holotype VNMN 010904, (B) adult female paratype VNMN 010910,
 (C) adult female paratype VNMN 010913, (D) adult male paratype VNMN 010906.

 Leptobrachella graminicola sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Assigned to the genus Leptobrachella on the basis of the following characters: small size, pres-ence of macroglands on body (including supra–axillary, pectoral, femoral and ventrolateral glands), the absence of vomerine teeth, the presence of tubercles on eyelids, anterior tip of snout with pale vertical bar and fingers free of webbing (Smith 1925; Dubois 1983; Lathrop et al. 1998; Delorme et al. 2006). Leptobrachella graminicola sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of: (1) a body size range of 23.1–24.6 mm in six adult males and 28.6–32.9 mm in five adult females; (2) skin on dorsum smooth, with many tubercles and lacking dermal ridges; (3) toes with rudimentary webbing and broad lateral fringes; (4) belly white with brown spots; (5) throat dark brown with light grey-brown flecks and spots; (6) a row of large white spots on the outer edge of the tarsus extending from the heel to the inner metatarsal tubercle, sometimes forming a long white stripe; and (7) a bicoloured iris.

(A) Macrohabitat of of Leptobrachella graminicola sp. nov. Mount Pu Ta Leng, Bat Xat District, Lao Cai Province,
(B) microhabitat of L. graminicola sp. nov. Mount Pu Ta Leng, Bat Xat District, Lao Cai Province, and
(C) specimens of L. graminicola sp. nov. sp. nov. in situ.

Etymology: Specific epithet “graminicola” is a noun in apposition, composed from Latin gramineus (grass) and incola (inhabitant) as all individuals were encountered on graminoid plants with grass-like morphology.

Suggested vernacular name: Mount Pu Ta Leng leaf-litter frog (English), 

Cóc mày lá cỏ (Vietnamese).

Luan Thanh Nguyen, Benjamin Tapley, Chung Thanh Nguyen, Hao Van Luong and Jodi J. L. Rowley. 2021. A New Species of Leptobrachella (Anura, Megophryidae) from Mount Pu Ta Leng, northwest Vietnam. Zootaxa. 5016(3); 301-332. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5016.3.1

  Researchgate.net/publication/353738105_A_new_species_of_Leptobrachella_from_Mount_Pu_Ta_Leng_northwest_Vietnam

 facebook.com/luongcubosatVietnam/posts/371340204579738

Tóm tắt tiếng Việt: Dãy núi Hoàng Liên Sơn ở vùng núi Tây Bắc Việt Nam có sự đa dạng cao các loài lưỡng cư trong họ Cóc Mày Megophryidae, trong đó có 5 loài thuộc giống cóc bùn Leptobrachella thuộc họ này được ghi nhận. Tại ngọn núi cao thứ hai Việt Nam, núi Pu Ta Leng, chúng tôi đã thu thập một quần thể Leptobrachella và kết quả phân tích hình thái cũng như sinh học phân tử cho thấy đây là một loài chưa được mô tả. Từ đó chúng tôi đặt tên loài mới này là cóc lá cỏ Leptobrachella graminicola sp. nov., với tên gọi thể hiện tập tính đặc biệt của loài này luôn được tìm thấy trên các lá cỏ ven suối. Loài này có đặc điểm hình thái ngoài gần giống với loài cóc mày bou-re, Leptobrachella bourreti, tuy nhiên loài mới có sự khác biệt với loài L. bourreti và các loài khác trong giống bởi những đặc điểm sau: (1) cơ thể kích thước trung bình, từ 23.1–24.6 mm ở 6 con đực trưởng thành, và 28.6–32.9 mm ở 5 con cái trưởng thành, (2) da lưng nhẵn với nhiều mụn nhỏ và không có các gờ da, (3) bàn chân có màng bơi vừa phải và rèm da bên các ngón phát triển, (4) bụng màu trắng đục với các đốm nâu, (5) họng màu nâu tối với các vệt và đốm sáng nhạt, (6) một hàng đốm trắng ở mép ngoài gót chân, đôi khi liền thành 1 vệt trắng dài và (7) mắt có hai màu khác biệt. Loài mới được khám phá cho thấy mức độ đa dạng và quan trọng của Dãy Hoàng Liên Sơn. Tuy nhiên, môi trường sống của loài này hiện rất hẹp và đang bị ảnh hưởng bởi sự mất sinh cảnh sống và hoạt động du lịch.

Key words: Amphibian, Frog, Hoang Lien, Leptobrachiinae, Leptolalax 

[Herpetology • 2020] Megophrys frigida • A New Potentially Endangered Species of Megophrys (Anura: Megophryidae) from Mount Ky Quan San, north-west Vietnam

Megophrys frigida

Tapley, Cutajar, Nguyen, Portway, Mahony, Nguyen, Harding, Luong & Rowley, 2020

Mount Ky Quan San Horned Frog || DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1856952

  zsl.org  twitter.com/Tapley_Benjamin 

australian.museum  twitter.com/JodiRowley 

ABSTRACT

The genus Megophrys is known to harbour morphological cryptic species diversity. During field work on Vietnam’s third highest peak, Mount Ky Quan San, north-west Vietnam, we collected specimens of a new species of Megophrys at two locations more than 2000 m above sea level (asl). Phylogenetic analyses using mitochondrial markers place the new species within the subgenus Panophrys, a primarily Chinese radiation within the genus Megophrys. We describe the species based on an all-male type series and distinguish it from all other Megophrys species from mainland Southeast Asia, north of the Isthmus of Kra and nearby provinces of China (Yunnan, Guangxi and Guizhou) based on morphological, molecular and bioacoustic data. The new species is inferred to form a clade along with M. hoanglienensis and M. fansipanensis; it is syntopic with the former but has a non-overlapping range with the latter. Uncorrected p distances for the 16S rDNA and CO1 genes between the new species and closest relatives exceed values observed between other closely related species in the Panophrys subgenus. The new species is most similar to M. fansipanensis in terms of morphology, and several call parameters also overlap with this species; however, these two species call at different times of year. This is the fourth likely range-restricted and Endangered Megophrys species described from the Hoang Lien Range since 2017, and this discovery further highlights the significance of the Hoang Lien Range for Vietnam’s amphibian diversity.

KEYWORDS: Anura, bioacoustics, Hoang Lien, Panohphrys, Xenophrys

    

 

Benjamin Tapley, Timothy Cutajar, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Christopher Portway, Stephen Mahony, Chung Thanh Nguyen, Luke Harding, Hao Van Luong and Jodi J. L. Rowley. 2020. A New Potentially Endangered Species of Megophrys (Amphibia: Megophryidae) from Mount Ky Quan San, north-west Vietnam. Journal of Natural History. 54(39-40); 2543-2575. DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1856952

 zsl.org/blogs/conservation/international-expedition-discovers-new-species-of-frog-from-vietnam-0

 twitter.com/tapley_benjamin/status/1372943477395369992

 twitter.com/JodiRowley/status/1373004057124610053

 australian.museum/blog/amri-news/new-species-of-tiny-horned-frog 

 

Tóm tắt tiếng Việt: Giống cóc sừng Megophrys chứa đựng sự đa dạng cao với nhiều loài tương đồng về hình thái. Trong quá trình khảo sát thực địa tại vùng đỉnh núi Ky Quan San, Tây Bắc Việt Nam, chúng tôi khám phá ra một loài mới thuộc giống Megophrys ở độ cao trên 2000 m. Các phân tích về dữ liệu di truyền sử dụng các đoạn gen thuộc hệ gen ty thể cho thấy quần thể này thuộc giống phụ Panophrys trong giống Megophrys, đây là một giống chủ yếu phân bố tại Trung Quốc. Chúng tôi mô tả loài mới này dựa trên các mẫu vật đực và so sánh với các loài khác trong giống Megophrys ở đất liền vùng Đông Nam Á (từ phía bắc eo đất Kra, Thái Lan) và khu vực lân cận ở Trung Quốc dựa trên đặc điểm hình thái, phân tử và âm học. Loài mới được mô tả gần gũi với hai loài đặc hữu ở dãy Hoàng Liên Sơn là Megophrys hoanglienensis và Megophrys fansipanensis; loài mới có cùng khu vực phân bố với loài M. hoanglienensis song về hình thái và tiếng kêu thì giống với loài M. fansipanensis nhưng giữa chúng khác nhau về mùa sinh sản. Đây là loài thứ tư, có vùng phân bố hẹp và nguy cơ tuyệt chủng cao được mô tả từ dãy Hoàng Liên từ năm 2017 đến nay. Khám phá này cho thấy sự đa đạng cao các loài lưỡng cư và tầm quan trọng của dãy Hoàng Liên đối với khu hệ lưỡng cư ở Việt Nam.

[Herpetology • 2020] Limnonectes fastigatus • A New Fanged Frog in the Limnonectes kuhlii Complex (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from northeastern Cambodia

 Limnonectes fastigatus 

Stuart, Schoen, Nelson, Maher, Neang, Rowley & McLeod, 2020

 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4894.3.11 

  australian.museum 

  twitter.com/JodiRowley 

Abstract

The Limnonectes kuhlii complex is a group of morphologically similar species of fanged frogs distributed across much of mainland and insular Southeast Asia. Many new species in this complex have been described in recent years, primarily on the basis of mitochondrial DNA divergence corroborated by differences in linear measurements and qualitative characters. Males in this species complex develop enlarged heads at sexual maturity, but the degree of head enlargement varies among mature males, even within the same population. We evaluated the utility of body length (snout–vent length minus head length) in descriptive statistics and in size-adjusting measurements for traditional morphometric analysis, as well as a landmark-based geometric morphometric analysis of male head shape, in Indochinese species of the L. kuhlii complex. The analyses supported quantitative and qualitative morphological distinction of a divergent mitochondrial lineage of the L. kuhlii complex in northeastern Cambodia, and the lineage is described as a new species. Limnonectes fastigatus sp. nov. differs from its closest relatives and from geographically proximate members of the complex by having the combination of elongated, slender odontoids; nuptial pads on the first finger; immaculate belly; significantly different body length-adjusted measurements in both sexes; and a significantly different male head shape. The new species is the only member of the L. kuhlii complex known from Cambodia.

Keywords: Amphibia, Anura, Dicroglossidae

 Limnonectes fastigatus sp. nov. 

 Bryan L. Stuart, Sara N. Schoen, Emma E.M. Nelson, Heather Maher, Thy Neang, Jodi J.L. Rowley and David S. McLeod. 2020. A New Fanged Frog in the Limnonectes kuhlii Complex (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from northeastern Cambodia. Zootaxa. 4894(3); 451–473. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4894.3.11

 twitter.com/JodiRowley/status/1336853298989527040

Welcome new fanged friend: A new species of Fanged Frog discovered in Cambodia

 australian.museum/blog/amri-news/new-species-of-fanged-frog/

 naturalsciences.org/calendar/news/welcome-new-fanged-friend-a-new-species-of-fanged-frog-discovered-in-cambodia/

 twitter.com/AmphSpecWorld/status/1336958627123441664

     

[Herpetology • 2020] Zhangixalus jodiae • A New Species of the Genus Zhangixalus (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae) from Vietnam

 Zhangixalus jodiae 

Nguyen, Ninh, Orlov, Nguyen & Ziegler, 2020

  DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1754484 

 twitter.com/JodiRowley

ABSTRACT
A new rhacophorid species is described from Vietnam on the basis of nine specimens collected in Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province, northeastern Vietnam. The new species is morphologically similar to Zhangixalus pinglongensis, Z. dorsoviridis, and Z. nigropunctatus, however, it differs from the latter by having the flank cream with large black blotches on axilla and groin. The genetic distance between the new species and Zhangixalus pinglongensis, Z. dorsoviridis and Z. nigropunctatus is >3.57% (16S mtDNA gene fragment). Zhangixalus jodiae sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species of Zhangixalus and other small rhacophorid species from Southeast Asia by a combination of the following characters: size small (SVL 36.1–39.8 mm in males); head as long as wide; vomerine teeth present; dorsal surface of head and body green without spots; axilla cream with large black blotches, groin and front-rear parts of the thigh, ventral surface of tibia black with orange blotches; lower jaw region greyish, chest and belly cream.

KEYWORDS: Zhangixalus jodiae sp. nov., molecular phylogeny, taxonomy, Ha Giang Province

Zhangixalus jodiae sp. nov. 
 Lateral views (A, B) and dorsal views of the left hand (C) & left foot (D) of the adult male holotype (VNMN 07121) from Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam.

Zhangixalus jodiae sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific epithet is in honour of Dr. Jodi Rowley from the Australian Museum for her great contribution to amphibian taxonomy in Asia. We propose the following colloquial names: Jodi’s Treefrog (English) and Ếch cây jô-đi (Vietnamese).


Tao Thien Nguyen ,Hoa Thi Ninh,Nikolai Orlov,Truong Quang Nguyen and Thomas Ziegler. 2020. A New Species of the Genus Zhangixalus (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae) from Vietnam. Journal of Natural History. Amphibian taxonomy: Early 21st century case studies. DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1754484

  twitter.com/JodiRowley/status/1274840096080986112