A new species of Boulenophrys (Anura, Megophryidae) from northern Jiangxi, China
Authors/Creators
- 1. Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
- 2. Administration of Lushan National Nature Reserve, Jiujiang, China
Description
A new species of the genus Boulenophrys (Anura, Megophryidae), Boulenophrys nebulosa sp. nov., is described from Mt. Lushan, Jiangxi Province, China. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes show that the new species forms a sister lineage to B. mufumontana. Morphologically, B. nebulosa sp. nov. differs from all known congeners by a unique combination of characters and from its closest relative, B. mufumontana, by the following combination of characters: (1) relative finger lengths I < II < IV < III; (2) indistinct subarticular tubercle at the base of each finger; (3) larger male body size (SVL 31.8–32.3 mm); (4) heels just meeting when hindlimbs are folded; (5) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the center of the eye when the leg is stretched forward; and (6) vomerine teeth present. This study expands the known distribution of Boulenophrys in Jiangxi and provides baseline data for biodiversity conservation efforts in Mt. Lushan.
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