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Type: Article
Published: 2017-11-08
Page range: 465–492
Abstract views: 274
PDF downloaded: 2

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

Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK.
Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William St, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia.
Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
Center for Rescue and Conservation of Organism, Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam.
Hong Duc University, 565 Quang Trung Street-Dong Ve Ward-Thanh Hoa City, Vietnam.
Vietnam National Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam. Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
Center for Rescue and Conservation of Organism, Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam.
Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William St, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia. Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
Amphibia Bioacoustics cryptic species Hoang Lien Megophrys rubrimera sp. nov. Southeast Asia tadpole

Abstract

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.

 

 

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