Kurixalus gracilloides, Nguyen & Duong & Luu & Poyarkov, 2020
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222933.2020.1728411 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C1BF843F-2F31-4CED-B1F9-13A9035C77C9 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/EBB6B41A-78E5-405C-A556-554D7B29F63C |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:EBB6B41A-78E5-405C-A556-554D7B29F63C |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Kurixalus gracilloides |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Kurixalus gracilloides sp. nov. ( Figures 3 – 4 View Figure 3 View Figure 4 ; Tables 3 – 4)
Holotype
SIEZC 30188 , adult male, collected by Tan Van Nguyen and Kien Trung Luu, on 9 August 2018 from the bamboo forest in Pu Mat NP, near Khe Bung Village , Mon Son Commune, Con Cuong District, Nghe An Province, northern Vietnam (18°50.084 ʹ N, 104° 49.592 ʹ E; at an elevation of 145 m asl). GoogleMaps
Paratypes
SIEZC 30189 – 30193 (5 adult males), and ZMMU A-6047 – 48 (2 adult males), with same collection information as for the holotype .
Diagnosis
Kurixalus gracilloides sp. nov. is distinguished from all of its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: body size small (SVL 27.9 – 31.2 mm in males, females unknown); head width subequal to head length; snout rounded lacking dermal projection; canthus rostralis distinct, curved; vomerine teeth present; single internal vocal sac; iris golden-brown; small nuptial pad on finger I; dorsal surfaces golden-brown with X-shaped saddle-like marking; large dark spots on ventral surfaces absent; dermal fringes along outer edge of limbs; conical dermal appendage at the heel; skin on dorsum rough; skin on throat and chest granular; finger webbing rudimentary and toe webbing moderately developed, formula I 2 – 2½ II 1½ – 3 III 1¾ – 3½ IV 3 – 1½ V.
Description of holotype
Adult male; SVL 29.6 mm; body habitus gracile; in a good state of preservation ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 ); measurements of the holotype are given in Table 3.
Head. head width subequal to head length (HL 10.9 mm, HW 10.7 mm; HW/HL ratio 0.98); snout obtusely pointed, lacking dermal projection on tip ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (c)); snout slightly projecting beyond margin of lower jaw in ventral view; nostrils oval, lateral, closer to the tip of snout than to the eye (NS 1.9 mm, EN 2.7 mm); canthus rostralis distinct, blunt and curved ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (c)); loreal region oblique, slightly concave; eye diameter slightly greater than snout length (SL 4.3 mm, ED 4.8 mm); internarial distance wider than interorbital distance, as long as upper eyelid (IND 2.9 mm, IOD 3.5 mm, UEW 2.9 mm); pineal spot absent; tympanum visible, round, ca. one-third of eye diameter (TD 1.5 mm); vomerine teeth in two oblique patches touching anteromedial edges of oval choanae; tongue heartshaped, notched behind; single internal vocal sac; and pupil horizontal, oval ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (c)).
Forelimbs. Forearm length (FLL 5.3 mm) ca. three times shorter than hand length (HAL 14.1 mm); relative finger lengths: I <II <IV <III; tips of fingers expanded into wide disks with circum-marginal and transverse ventral grooves; disk of third finger slightly wider than tympanum (FD3 1.4 mm), fingers with basal webbing ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (f)); subarticular tubercles present, round, subarticular tubercle formula: 1:1:2:1; three palmar (metacarpal) tubercles present ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (f)): inner palmar tubercle distinct (IPT 1.4 mm), outer palmar tubercles two, small; finger I with nuptial pads (NPL 2.1 mm); row of warts forming serrated fringe along outer edge of forearm ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (d)).
Hindlimbs. Tibia slightly longer than thigh (FeL 14.1 mm, TbL 14.4 mm), approximately six times longer than wide (TbW 2.5 mm); tips of toes expanded into disks with circummarginal and transverse ventral grooves; toe disks smaller than finger disks; relative length of toes: I <II <V <III <IV; toes with moderate webbing, webbing formula I 2 – 2½ II 1½ – 3 III 1¾ – 3½ IV 3 – 1½ V; subarticular tubercles prominent and rounded, subarticular tubercle formula: 1:1:2:3:2; supernumerary tubercles absent; inner metatarsal tubercle distinct, oval ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (f)); outer metatarsal tubercle absent; series of tubercles forming serrated dermal fringe along outer edge of tarsus and metatarsus ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (d));
Species ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ Dorsal skin texture Dosum color Source Kurixalus gracilloides sp. nov. 27.9 – 31.1? 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 Rough with small tubercles Brownish mixed with dark markings 36 K. appendiculatus 26.5 – 35.3 27.4 – 42.4 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 Rough with small tubercles Brownish mixed with green markings 3, 32 K. baliogaster 33.0 – 33.3 35.8 – 41.5 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 Rough with small tubercles Brownish mixed with dark markings 8, 36 K. banaensis 26.2 – 33.2 30.5 – 37 0 0 or 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 Scattered with tubercles Brownish mixed with green markings 9, 21, 36 K. berylliniris 29.0 – 42.3 27.6 – 46.3 0 0 or 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 Rough with small tubercles Dark green to deep tan with dark 24 markings
K. bissacculus 30 – 31.5? 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Scattered with tubercles Brownish mixed with green markings 4, 27, 36 K. chaseni 30 – 37 42 – 50 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 Scattered with tubercles Brownish mixed with green markings 2, 3, 34, 36 K. ei ffi ngeri 31 – 35 32 – 44 0 0 or 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 Rough with small tubercles Brownish mixed with dark markings 7, 15 K. hainanus 30.1 – 39.1 40.6 – 47.8 0 0 or 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 Scattered with tubercles Brownish mixed with large green 13, 27 blotches
K. idiootocus 26 – 31 29 – 41 0 0 or 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 Scattered with tubercles Brownish mixed with dark markings 7, 15, 24 K. lenquanensis 25 – 28.9? 0 0 or 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 Scattered with tubercles Brownish mixed with dark markings 28 K. motokawai 23.2 – 28.4 25.1 0 0 or 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 Rough with small tubercles Brownish mixed with green markings 20, 36 K. naso 29.3 – 32.5? 0 0 or 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 Scattered with tubercles Brownish mixed with dark markings 27, 32 K. odontotarsus 32.1 – 34.3 35 – 43 0 0 or 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 Scattered with tubercles Brownish mixed with large green 10, 15, 27, blotches 36 K. verrucosus ? 43 – 45 1 0 or 1 1 1? 1 1 1 Scattered with tubercles Brownish mixed with green markings 1, 27 K. viridescens ? 28.7 – 36.6 0 1 1 0? 1? 1 Rough small with tubercles Uniformly greenish 20, 36 K. wangi 28.6 – 31.6 30.8 – 37.1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 Rough with small tubercles Brownish-green mixed 24
with dark markings
K. yangi 31.6 – 34.7? 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 Scattered with tubercles Brownish mixed with dark markings 32 G. ananjevae 32.4 43.4 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 Rough with dense Brownish mixed with dark markings 11, 36 large tubercles
G. carinensis 30.2 – 38.1 40.3 – 41.8 1 0 0 0 0? 0 0 Rough with small tubercles Greyish to reddish-brown 1, 9, 26 G. gracilipes 20.4 – 23.5 26.4 – 29.5 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 Rough with small tubercles Greenish to brownish-green 10, 15, 36 G. guangdongensis 26.1 – 34.7 34.9 – 35.4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Rough with small tubercles Brown to beige with dark markings 31 G. jinggangensis 27.9 – 33.8 31.6 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Rough with dense Brown to beige with dark markings 29
large tubercles
G. jinxiuensis 24.2 – 26.3 28.0 – 29.2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Rough with dense Brown to beige with dark markings 5, 15, 29 or large tubercles
1
(Continued) Species ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ Dorsal skin texture Dosum color Source
G. lumarius 38.9 – 41.6 36.3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Dense network of conical Brown or yellow with dark markings 22 tubercles
G. medogensis 26.5? 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Rough with small tubercles Brown with dark markings 6, 15
G. quangi 21.4 – 24.5 26.8 – 27.3 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 Rough with small tubercles Greenish to brownish-green with dark 16, 33, 36 markings
G. quyeti ? 31.4 – 34.0 1 0 0 0? 1? 1 Rough with small tubercles Greenish-beige to 14, 25 greyish light-brown
G. sapaensis 20.8 – 36.9 27.2 – 39.5 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Rough with small tubercles Greyish to reddish-brown with dark 26 markings
G. seesom 21.6 – 23.0 23.2 – 25.4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 Rough with small tubercles Tan with small dark spots 23
G. supercornutus 22.0 – 24.1 28.6 – 32.1 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 Large spines Yellowish-green 12, 19, 36
G. tianlinensis 30.3 – 35.9 35.6 – 38.7 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 Rough with small tubercles Brown to beige with dark markings 30
G. nonggangensis (including 27.1 – 32.9 37.6 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Rough with small tubercles Grey to brown with dark markings 17, 18
G. waza )
G. yunnanensis 26.0 – 34.2? 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Rough with conical tubercles Yellow to reddish-brown with dark 35 markings
Source: 1: Boulenger (1893); 2: Smith (1924); 3: Inger (1954); 4: Taylor (1962); 5: Hu et al. (1978); 6: Ye and Hu (1984); 7: Kuramoto and Wang (1987); 8: Inger et al. (1999); 9: Bossuyt and Dubois
(2001); 10: Bain and Nguyen (2004); 11: Matsui and Orlov (2004); 12: Orlov et al. (2004); 13: Zhao et al. (2005); 14: Nguyen et al. (2008); 15: Fei et al. (2009); 16: Rowley et al. (2011); 17: Mo et al.
(2013); 18: Nguyen et al. (2013); 19: Luu et al. (2014); 20: Nguyen et al. (2014a); 21: Nguyen et al. (2014b); 22: Rowley et al. (2014); 23: Matsui et al. (2015); 24: Wu et al. (2016); 25: Egert et al.
(2017); 26: Matsui et al. (2017); 27: Yu et al. (2017a); 28: Yu et al. (2017b); 29: Zeng et al. (2017); 30: Chen et al. (2018a); 31: Wang et al. (2018); 32: Yu et al. (2018); 33: Pham et al. (2019); 34: Yi
and Sheridan (2019); 35: Yu et al. (2019); 36: our data.
prominent conical dermal appendage at the heel; and tibiotarsal articulation of straightened hindlimb reaching to the level between the eye and nares.
Skin texture in life. Dorsal surfaces rough, with numerous small or large tubercles scattered on top of head, upper eyelids, dorsum and flanks ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (a – d)); patch of prominent white pustules below vent ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (f)); white conical projection on tibiotarsal articulation; supratympanic fold moderately distinct, gently curving from posterior edge of eye to insertion of arm ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (c)); throat and chest finely granulated, abdomen coarsely granulated ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (f)); dorsal surface of limbs tuberculate and ventral surface of thighs finely granulated ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (f)).
Colouration in life. In life dorsal surfaces background colour yellow-brown ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (a)), indistinct dark-brown mottling on dorsal surface of head; dark-brown interorbital bar in a shape of inverted triangle located on upper eyelids and head basis pointing to scapular region ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (b)), posterior part of dorsum light-brown, sacral region brown; a distinct dark-brown X-shaped saddle-like marking located in scapular region ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (a,b)), a series of round blackish warts located in scapular region, two larger black spots on sacrum and several smaller black dots irregularly scattered on dorsum ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (b)); cloacal region with a dark-drey spot surrounded with whitish tubercles ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (d)). Limbs dorsally light-brown with whitish dermal fringes on outer edges ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (d)); fingers and toes greyish-brown; forelimbs with two incomplete transverse dark-brown bands; elbows dark brown, ventrally edged with white; three transverse dark-brown lines on dorsal surface of each thigh continuing to shanks and tibiotarsus, light-brown spot on each knee; tibiotarsal joint medially and ventrally dark-brown, tibiotarsal projection dorsally light brown, ventrally dark-brown at basis, tip white; narrow indistinct dark-brown bars on dorsal surface of fingers and toes ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (a,b)). Head laterally greyish-brown with small indistinct dark-brown mottling, lighter mottling on upper jaw, supratympanic fold brownish ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (c)); body flanks light grown with indistinct brownish spots, turning off- white with greyishbrown mottling ventrally, inguinal region with dark-brown oval blotch, anterior surfaces of thighs and axillary area orange-yellow ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (e)). Ventral surfaces off- white with dark-grey mottling, getting denser on throat, more sparse on chest and belly; ventral surfaces of forelimbs pinkish-grey with grey mottling; ventral surface of hindlimbs greyish with whitish spots and darker brown reticulations; ventral surfaces of digit disks pink ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (f)). Sclera bluish-grey, iris dorsally and ventrally light goldenbrown with indistinct brown reticulations, laterally with two radiating dark-brown streaks on each side ( Figure 3 View Figure 3 (c)).
Colouration in preservative. After preservation in ethanol for two years, colouration pattern of holotype resembles that observed in life; however, yellowish and light-brown faded completely turning beige-grey, brownish-black patterns on dorsum appeared brownish-grey; ventral colouration off- white with greyish spots.
Variation
Measurements and morphological characters of the type series are given in Table 3. Because the holotype and paratypes of the new species are all males, sexual dimorphism could not be determined. The paratypes are generally similar to the holotype in body proportions; SVL of the type series varies from 27.9 to 31.1 mm, with the mean of 29.1 ± 0.99 mm. Pattern of dark-brown markings on dorsum slightly varies among specimens; male paratype ZMMU A-6047 has brighter orange-brown background colouration of dorsum, chocolate-brown hourglass-shaped marking on dorsum with a distinct dark-brown interorbital-bar and an X-shaped marking ( Figure 4 View Figure 4 ).
Etymology
The specific epithet ‘gracilloides’ is a Latin adjective in nominative singular, derived from Latin ‘gracilis’ (gracile, thin) and ‘-oides’ (similar to, resembling something). The species name is given to a remarkable similarity of the new species with several species of the genus Gracixalus in body shape and dorsum colouration.
Recommended vernacular names
We suggest the following common names: Gracile Frilled Treefrog (English), Stroynyi Bakhromchatyi Veslonog (Russian) and Ếch cây rìa chân mảnh (Vietnamese).
Ecological notes
Specimens were recorded at night between 19:00 and 22:00 h beside large temporary puddles along several rocky streams at the edge of the forest of Ke Bung Region, Pu Mat NP, Con Cuong District, Nghe An Province, Vietnam ( Figure 5 View Figure 5 ). The surrounding habitat was secondary heavily disturbed evergreen forest of medium and small hardwoods mixed with bamboo ( Poaceae ), banana ( Musa sp., Musaceae ), various shrubs and numerous vines ( Figure 5 View Figure 5 ). Most of the specimens were found while calling from bamboo leaves or trunks, ca. 0.5 – 2.0 m above the ground near the pond. Male advertisement call (not recorded) to human ear reminds calling of members of Kurixalus odontotarsus species complex and consists of clicking and whirring/whistling sounds. Males called loudly; however, females, eggs and tadpoles were not found. Other amphibian species recorded at the same site included Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider) , Fejervarya cf. multistriata (Hallowell) , Hoplobatrachus rugulosus (Wiegmann) , Microhyla butleri Boulenger , M. mukhlesuri Hasan, Islam, Kuramoto, Kurabayashi & Sumida , Sylvirana annamitica Sheridan & Stuart , Feihyla cf. hansenae (Cochran), Polypedates mutus (Smith) and Zhangixalus dennysi (Blanford) .
Distribution
K. gracilloides sp. nov. is currently known only from the type locality in Pu Mat NP, Con Cuong District , Nghe An Province, northern Vietnam ( Figure 1 View Figure 1 ) . The distribution limits of the species are unknown; however, its discovery on the Laotian side of the border in Bolikhamsai Province of Laos is anticipated .
Conservation status
The continued survival of K. gracilloides sp. nov. is threatened by further habitat loss and degradation due to continuous encroachment (e.g. livestock grazing, expanding agriculture and collection of forest products) and habitat destruction. During our field surveys, we also observed local people of the Mon Son Commune collecting specimens of the new species along with other anurans for food despite their small body size. Given the likely relatively small estimated range of the new species, the high human population density within that range and the highly and increasingly fragmented state of lowland forests in the area, we recommend that the new species be considered Near Threatened (NT) following IUCN ’ s Red List categories ( IUCN 2016).
Comparisons
Comparative morphological data for the new species and all currently recognised members of the genera Kurixalus and Gracixalus are summarised in Table 4.
K. gracilloides sp. nov. differs from other congeners by the following morphological features. The new species differs from K. appendiculatus by the absence of green colouration on the dorsal surface (vs. present), by rudimentary webbing between fingers (vs. fingers for one-third webbed) and by outer metacarpal tubercles present (vs. absent). K. gracilloides sp. nov. differs from K. baliogaster (Inger, Orlov & Darevsky) by having slightly smaller body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 30.3 – 33.3 mm in males), by rounded snout lacking dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection), by tibiotarsal projection present (vs. absent), by the absence of large dark spots on venter (vs. present) and by the presence of welldeveloped serrated dermal fringes on limbs (vs. absent). K. gracilloides sp. nov. differs from K. banaensis (Bourret) by having a rounded snout with no dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection), by vomerine teeth present (vs. absent) and by the absence of green colouration on the dorsal surface (vs. present). The new species differs from K. berylliniris Wu, Huang, Tsai, Li, Jhang & Wu by generally slightly smaller body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 29.0 – 42.3 mm in males), by rounded snout lacking dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection), by dorsum colour brownish (vs. dark green to deep green), by golden iris (vs. emerald to light green) and by small nuptial pad on finger I in males (vs. greatly expanded nuptial pad). K. gracilloides sp. nov. differs from K. bissacculus (Taylor) by having rounded snout with no dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection), by single vocal sac (vs. paired), by the absence of green colouration on dorsal surface (vs. generally present) and by having comparatively less tuberculate dorsum. The new species differs from K. chaseni (Smith) by having generally smaller body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 30 – 37 mm in males), by the absence of green colouration on dorsum (vs. present), by rudimentary webbing between fingers (vs. fingers for one-third webbed), by generally less tuberculate dorsum and by outer metacarpal tubercles present (vs. absent). The new species differs from K. ei ffi ngeri (Boettger) by having slightly smaller body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 31 – 35 mm in males), by rounded snout with no dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection), by weak nuptial pad on finger I in males (vs. greatly expanded nuptial pad in males) and by curved canthus rostralis (vs. straight). K. gracilloides sp. nov. differs from K. hainanus (Zhao, Wang & Shi) by having generally smaller body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 30.1 – 39.1 mm in males), by rounded snout lacking dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection), by the absence of green colouration on dorsal surfaces (vs. present) and by generally less tuberculate dorsum. The new species differs from K. idiootocus (Kuramoto & Wang) by having rounded snout with no dermal projection (vs. pointed snout with a dermal projection), by generally less tuberculate dorsum and by the absence of a pair of symmetrical large dark patches on chest (vs. present). The new species differs from K. lenquanensis Yu, Wang, Hou, Rao & Yang by having generally larger body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 25 – 28.9 mm in males), by rounded snout with no dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection) and by generally less tuberculate dorsum. K. gracilloides sp. nov. differs from K. motokawai Nguyen, Matsui & Eto by having generally larger body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 23.2 – 28.4 mm in males), by rounded snout lacking dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection), by vomerine teeth present (vs. absent) and by the absence of green colouration on dorsal surfaces (vs. present). The new species differs from K. naso (Annandale) by having rounded snout with no dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection), by the absence of green colouration on dorsal surfaces (vs. present), by generally less tuberculate dorsum and by having interorbital distance wider than internarial distance and upper eyelid width (vs. narrower). The new species differs from K. odontotarsus (Ye & Fei) by having smaller body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 32.1 – 34.3 mm in males), by rounded snout lacking dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection), by the absence of green colouration on dorsum (vs. present), by absence of large dark spots on venter (vs. present) and by generally less tuberculate dorsum. K. gracilloides sp. nov. differs from K. verrucosus (Boulenger) by the absence of green colouration on dorsum (vs. present), by generally less tuberculate dorsum, by having interorbital space greater than upper eyelid width (vs. equal) and by granular skin on throat and chest (vs. smooth). The new species differs from K. viridescens Nguyen, Matsui & Hoang by having rounded snout with no dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection), by vomerine teeth present (vs. absent) and by brownish colouration of dorsum (vs. uniformly green). The new species differs from K. wangi Wu, Huang, Tsai, Li, Jhang & Wu by having rounded snout with no dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection), by the absence of green colouration on dorsum (vs. present) and by a weak nuptial pad in finger I in males (vs. greatly expanded nuptial pad). K. gracilloides sp. nov. differs from K. yangi Yu, Hui, Rao & Yang by having slightly smaller body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 31.6 – 34.7 mm in males), by having rounded snout lacking dermal projection (vs. pointed with a dermal projection), by the absence of green colouration on dorsum (vs. present) and by generally less tuberculate dorsum.
Superficially, K. gracilloides sp. nov. by its small body size, gracile body habitus and dorsal colouration resembles some species of the genus Gracixalus . However, the new species can be readily distinguished from all members of this genus by the following morphological attributes: by the presence of a weak tibiotarsal projection (vs. absent), by the presence of serrated dermal fringes on limbs (vs. absent) and by the presence of vomerine teeth (vs. absent). The new species can be further distinguished from G. ananjevae (Matsui & Orlov) by single vocal sac (vs. paired), by notably less tuberculate dorsum and by finely granular skin on throat (vs. smooth). The new species further differs from G. carinensis (Boulenger) and from G. sapaensis Matsui, Ohler, Eto & Nguyen by the presence of nuptial pad on finger I in males (vs. absent). K. gracilloides sp. nov. can be further distinguished from G. guangdongensis Wang, Zeng, Liu & Wang and from G. medogensis (Ye & Hu) by yellow to orange colouration of axilla (vs. brown). The new species further differs from G. jinggangensis Zeng, Zhao, Chen, Chen, Zhang & Wang by the presence of nuptial pad on finger I in males (vs. on fingers I and II). The new species can be further distinguished from G. jinxiuensis (Hu) by having slightly larger body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 24.2 – 26.3 mm in males) and by dorsum with small tubercles (vs. numerous dense large tubercles). K. gracilloides sp. nov. further differs from G. tianlinensis Chen, Bei, Liao, Zhou & Mo by having generally smaller body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 30.3 – 35.9 mm in males) and by the presence of nuptial pad on finger I in males (vs. on fingers I and II). The new species can be further distinguished from G. lumarius Rowley, Le, Dau, Hoang & Cao by having smaller body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 38.9 – 41.6 mm in males), by single vocal sac (vs. paired), by dorsum covered with small tubercles (vs. dense network of conical tubercles), by a distinct tympanum and supratympanic fold (vs. indistinct) and by whitish ventral colouration in breeding male (vs. pink). The new species can be further distinguished from G. quyeti (Nguyen, Hendrix, Böhme, Vu & Ziegler) by brownish dorsal colour (vs. greenish beige to greyish light-brown). The new species can be further distinguished from G. nonggangensis Mo, Zhang, Luo, Zhou & Chen (including G. waza Nguyen, Le, Pham, Nguyen, Bonkowski & Ziegler ) by a single vocal sac (vs. paired) and by yellow to orange colouration of axilla (vs. greenish-grey). The new species further differs from G. yunnanensis Yu, Hui, Wang, Rao, Wu & Yang by ventral surface whitish (vs. orange) and by the absence of linea masculinea (vs. present). K. gracilloides sp. nov. further differs from G. seesom Matsui, Khonsue, Panha & Eto by having larger body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. 21.6 – 23.0 mm in males), by rounded snout (vs. pointed), by a single vocal sac (vs. paired), by the presence of nuptial pad on finger I in males (vs. absent), by brownish dorsal colouration (vs. tan to yellowish) and by the absence of a white patch on flanks (vs. present). Furthermore, K. gracilloides sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from miniaturised green species of Gracixalus , namely from G. gracilipes (Bourret) , G. quangi Rowley, Dau, Nguyen , Cao & Nguyen and G. supercornutus (Orlov, Ho & Nguyen) , by having larger body size (SVL 27.9 – 31.1 mm vs. SVL <24.5 in males), by having rounded snout (vs. pointed), by lacking dermal spines on upper eyelid (vs. present), by the absence of a white patch under the eye continuing to the tympanal area (vs. present) and by brownish dorsum (vs. dorsum greenish to brownish green).
| ZMMU |
Zoological Museum, Moscow Lomonosov State University |
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