A new Asian leaf litter toad of the genus Leptobrachella (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae) from northeastern Guizhou, China.
4 affiliations
- 1Guizhou Mayanghe National Nature Reserve Administration, Yanhe 565300, China Guizhou Mayanghe National Nature Reserve Administration Yanhe China.
- 2Guizhou Wildlife Conservation Association, Guiyang 550025, China Guizhou Wildlife Conservation Association Guiyang China.
- 3College of Resources and Environment, Moutai Institute, 564500, Renhuai, China College of Resources and Environment, Moutai Institute Renhuai China https://ror.org/050ky1v94.
- 4College of Life Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China College of Life Science, Guizhou University Guiyang China https://ror.org/02wmsc916.
Abstract
Based on morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses, a new species of the genus Leptobrachella from Mayanghe National Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, China, is described, Leptobrachella mayanghe sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI gene sequences supported the new species as an independent lineage. The uncorrected p-distances of the 16S rRNA and COI genes between the new species and its closest congeners (L. wulingensis, L. yongshunensis and L. xinshaoensis) are 1.8-3.4% and 8.5-9.3%, respectively. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) SVL 27.4-31.8 mm in males; (2) toes rudimentarily webbed, without lateral fringes; (3) tympanum distinct, not surrounded by prominent tubercles; (4) dorsal surface shagreened, with dense small raised tubercles and irregular longitudinal ridges; (5) ventral surface creamy white, indistinct brown markings on lateral abdomen and chest; (6) distinct black spots present on flanks; (7) heels slightly overlapping when hindlimbs are flexed at right angles to the body axis; and (8) tibia-tarsal articulation reaching the middle of the eye; (9) iris uniformly bright copper-colored. The discovery of this new species enriches the diversity of Leptobrachella in the Wuling Mountain range and highlights the conservation value of Mayanghe National Nature Reserve.
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BibTeX
@article{yang2026asian,
title = {{A new Asian leaf litter toad of the genus Leptobrachella (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae) from northeastern Guizhou, China.}},
author = {Zhaohui Yang and Jing Liu and Fan Zhang and Yanlin Cheng and Qixian Zou and Yunlong Chen and Lang Mu and Junjian Zhou and Shize Li and Heng Zhao},
journal = {ZooKeys},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3897/zookeys.1295.206395},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42959684},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A new Asian leaf litter toad of the genus Leptobrachella (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae) from northeastern Guizhou, China.
AU - Zhaohui Yang
AU - Jing Liu
AU - Fan Zhang
AU - Yanlin Cheng
AU - Qixian Zou
AU - Yunlong Chen
AU - Lang Mu
AU - Junjian Zhou
AU - Shize Li
AU - Heng Zhao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - ZooKeys
DO - 10.3897/zookeys.1295.206395
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42959684
AB - Based on morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses, a new species of the genus Leptobrachella from Mayanghe National Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, China, is described, Leptobrachella mayanghe sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI gene sequences supported the new species as an independent lineage. The uncorrected p-distances of the 16S rRNA and COI genes between the new species and its closest congeners (L. wulingensis, L. yongshunensis and L. xinshaoensis) are 1.8-3.4% and 8.5-9.3%, respectively. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) SVL 27.4-31.8 mm in males; (2) toes rudimentarily webbed, without lateral fringes; (3) tympanum distinct, not surrounded by prominent tubercles; (4) dorsal surface shagreened, with dense small raised tubercles and irregular longitudinal ridges; (5) ventral surface creamy white, indistinct brown markings on lateral abdomen and chest; (6) distinct black spots present on flanks; (7) heels slightly overlapping when hindlimbs are flexed at right angles to the body axis; and (8) tibia-tarsal articulation reaching the middle of the eye; (9) iris uniformly bright copper-colored. The discovery of this new species enriches the diversity of Leptobrachella in the Wuling Mountain range and highlights the conservation value of Mayanghe National Nature Reserve.
SN - 1313-2989
SN - 1313-2970
ER -