Work

A new Asian leaf litter toad of the genus Leptobrachella (Amphibia, Anura, Megophryidae) from northeastern Guizhou, China

Year: 2026

Type: article

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.

Source: ZooKeys

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1295.206395