Xenophrys jinggangensis Wang

Wang, Ying-Yong, Zhang, Tian-Du, Zhao, Jian, Sung, Yik-Hei & Yang, Jian-Huan, 2012, Description of a new species of the genus Xenophrys Günther, 1864 (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from Mount Jinggang, China, based on molecular and morphological data, Zootaxa 3546, pp. 53-67 : 58-62

Xenophrys jinggangensis Wang sp. nov.

Holotype. Adult female, SYS a001430, collected by Jian Zhao and Run-Lin Li on 13 September 2011, from Mount Jinggang (26°33'06.30" N, 114°09'17.60" E; 845 m a.s.l.), Jinggangshan City, Jiangxi Province, China ( Figure 3 ). Paratypes. Two adult females: SYS a001413 ( Figure 4 A) and a001416; two adult males: SYS a001414–1415. All collected from the same locality as holotype at 700–850 m a.s.l. by Jian Zhao, Zhong Zhang and Run-Lin Li on 13 September 2011.

Other examined materials. Six tadpoles: SYS a001484, from the same locality as holotype at 700–850 m a.s.l. by Jian Zhao and Run-Lin Li on 5 December 2011 ( Figures 4 C, 4D).

Diagnosis. Xenophrys jinggangensis sp. nov. is characterized by the combination of following characters: (1) a small-sized species with 38.4–41.6 mm SVL in adult females, 35.1–36.7 mm SVL in adult males; (2) head length approximately equal to head width (HDL/HDW ratio 1); (3) snout almost truncate in plan view, strongly projecting, sloping backward to mouth in profile, protruding well beyond margin of lower jaw; (4) tympanum great and distinct, TMP/EYE ratio 0.8 in females and males; (5) vomerine teeth on two weak ridges; (6) margin of tongue smooth, not notched behind; (7) relative finger length II <I <IV <III; (8) lateral fringes on digits minute, toes with a thick, fleshy web at their bases; (9) large subarticular tubercle at base of each digit; (10) dorsal skin granulated with tubercles, forming single swollen dorsolateral folds parallel to contra-lateral fold and discontinuous V-shaped fold from above the tympanum to the shoulder, flanks with larger pustules scattered, ventral surface smooth with granules; (11) several large tubercles on the upper eyelid, one of them horn-like, remarkably prominent at the edge of the eyelid; (12) dorsum light brown, four wide longitudinal dark-brown stripes parallel each other, a dark brown triangle between eyes; dorsal limbs and digits light brown with dark brown transverse bands; ventral surface grayish with black and brown spots.

Comparisons. Comparative data of Xenophrys jinggangensis sp. nov. with 42 known species of Xenophrys were obtained from the literatures ( Boulenger 1908; Inger & Romer 1961; Taylor 1962; Fei et al. 1992, Tian et al. 2000; Ohler et al. 2002; Inger & Iskandar 2005; Mathew & Sen 2007; Fei et al. 2009; Mo et al. 2010) and shown in Table 3. The new species can be steadily distinguished from all known 42 congeners by the combination of following characters: tympanum great and distinct, dorsal skin granulated with tubercles, swollen dorsolateral folds, large pustules scattered on flanks and the unique color pattern. Further, the new species is significantly smaller in body size from the following 20 congeners: X. aceras (Boulenger, 1903) , X. auralensis ( Ohler, Swan & Daltry, 2002) , X. baluensis (Boulenger, 1899) , X. caudoprocta (Shen, 1994) , X. damrei ( Mahony, 2011) , X. gigantica (Liu, Hu & Yang, 1960) , X. glandulosa (Fei, Ye & Huang, 1990) , X. jingdongensis Fei & Ye, 1983 , X. lekaguli (Stuart, Chuaynkern, Chan-ard & Inger, 2006), X. longipes (Boulenger, 1886) , X. major ( Boulenger, 1908) , X. mangshanensis , X. medogensis (Fei & Ye, 1983) , X. omeimontis (Liu, 1950) , X. robusta ( Boulenger, 1908) , X. sangzhiensis (Jiang, Ye & Fei, 2008) , X. shapingensis (Liu, 1950) , X. shuichengensis ( Tian, Gu & Sun, 2000) , X. spinata (Liu & Hu, 1973) and X. takensis ( Mahony, 2011) ; it has a small body sized (38.4–41.6 mm SVL in adult females, 35.1–36.7 mm SVL in adult males), as opposed to 63.5–118.3 mm SVL in adult females, 47.3–115 mm SVL in adult males in those 20 large body-sized species. The new species differs from the following thirteen small body-sized congeners (characters in parentheses) by the presence of vomerine teeth (vs. absent): X. baolongensis (Ye, Fei & Xie, 2007) , X. binchuanensis (Ye & Fei, 1995) , X. binlingensis (Jiang, Fei & Ye, 2009) , X. boettgeri , X. brachykolos , X. huangshanensis , X. kuatunensis , X. minor , X. nankiangensis (Liu & Hu, 1966) , X. tuberogranulatus ( Shen, Mo & Li, 2010) , X. wawuensis (Fei, Jiang & Zheng, 2001) , X. wuliangshanensis (Ye & Fei, 1995) and X. wushanensis (Ye & Fei, 1995) ; The new species differs from the following six small body-size congeners (characters in parentheses) by having distinct subarticular tubercles on toes (vs. lacking): X. daweimontis ( Rao and Yang, 1997) , X. pachyproctus (Huang, 1981) , X. palpebralespinosa (Bourret, 1937) , X. parallela ( Inger and Iskandar, 2005) , X. parva (Boulenger, 1893) and X. zhangi ( Ye and Fei, 1992) ; The new species differs from X. dringi ( Mahony, 2011) (characters in parentheses) in that in that margin of tongue is not notched (vs. notched); from X. serchhipii Mathew & Sen, 2007 (characters in parentheses) by having relative finger length II <I <IV <III (vs. 2nd and 4th fingers subequal in length in X. serchhipii ); from X. zunhebotoensis Mathew & Sen, 2007 (characters in parentheses) in that head length is approximately equal to head width (vs. head length smaller than head width), flank scattered with large tubercles (vs. flank scattered with small tubercles), supratympanic fold not curving on to the anterior region of the tympanum (supratympanic fold curving on to the anterior region of the tympanum to give it a round shape), vomerine ridges relatively separated (vomerine ridges close to each other).

Description of Holotype. Adult female, SVL 38.4 mm. Head length approximately equal to head width (HDL/ HDW ratio 1.0); snout short (SNT/HDL ratio 0.3, SNT/SVL ratio 0.1), almost truncate in plan view, sloping backward to mouth in profile, strongly protruding well beyond margin of lower jaw; top of head flat; eye large and convex, eye diameter 32% of head length (EYE/HDL ratio 0.3), upper eyelid slightly wider than interorbital distance; pupil vertical; nostril oblique ovoid with low flap of skin laterally; canthus rostralis sharp; loreal region vertical, not concave; internasal distance larger than interorbital distance; tympanum elevated relative to skin of temporal region, distinctly visible, TMP/EYE ratio 0.8; tympanum-eye distance great, TEY 2.5 mm, TEY/TMP ratio 0.9; choanae large, ovoid at the bases of the maxilla; two vomerine ridges weakly, oblique, posteromedial to choanae, each bearing numerous prominent teeth; margin of tongue smooth, not notched behind.

Forelimbs moderately slender; radioulna length 26% SVL, hands without web, moderately longer, 27% of SVL; fingers slender, relative finger length II <I <IV <III; tips of digits round, slightly dilated; a large subarticular tubercle at base of each finger, slight lateral fringes from subarticular tubercles to terminal phalanges; metacarpal tubercle two, inner one significantly enlarged. Hindlimbs relatively long and moderately robust; tibia length 48% of SVL; foot length 71% of SVL; relative toe lengths I <II <V <III <IV; tips of toes round, slightly dilated; toes with a fleshy web at their bases; a large subarticular tubercle at base of each toe, slight lateral fringes from subarticular tubercles to terminal phalanges; tarsal fold absent; but as outer lateral fringes on toe V from hough to terminal phalanges; inner metatarsal tubercle ovoid; outer metatarsal tubercle absent.

Skin on all upper surfaces granulated with tubercles, forming single swollen dorsolateral folds parallel to contralateral fold and discontinuous V-shaped fold from above the tympanum to the shoulder; several large tubercles at the upper eyelid prominent, one of them horn-like, remarkably prominent at the edge of the eyelid; supratympanic fold distinct, curving posteroventrally from posterior corner of eye to a level above insertion of arm where forming swollen glandular pustule; larger pustules scattered on flanks, ventral surface smooth with granules; pectoral gland large, round, prominently elevated relative to ventral surface, closer to axilla than to min-ventral line; single larger femoral gland on rear of thigh, two larger lip glands on anterior part of lower jaw, also round, prominently elevated relative to periphery skin surface; distinct granules on posterior thighs and around cloaca; cloacal opening unmodified, directed posteriorly, at upper level of thighs.

Measurements of holotype (in mm). SVL 38.4, HDL 12.2, HDW 12.2, SNT 4.1, IND 4.0, IOD 3.7, EYE 3.8, TMP 2.9, TEY 2.5, HND 10.4, RAD 10.0, FTL 27.2, TIB 18.6.

Coloration of holotype in life. Dorsum light brown, four wide longitudinal dark-brown stripes, outer two along the dorsolateral folds parallel each other, inside two intersect in middle; a dark brown triangle with a light center between the two eyes, apex of triangle over occiput; a dark brown stripe along the body axes on the dorsum of snout, the both sides large dark brown spots; tip of snout dark brown with black spots; upper lip with vertical dark brown bars, the one under the eye largest and distinct; excepting arm, dorsal limbs and digits light brown with dark brown transverse bands; all dark brown regions bordered by black edge lines; a gray-brown stripe on both flanks from the posterior margin of the forelimb insertion to the anterior margin of the hind limb insertion; ventral surface pale grayish with small black spots and dark blotches; lower lip black with vertical white bars, including two lip glands; three longitudinal black stripes on the throat, large lateral black spots on belly, all bordered by white edges; anterior surface of thighs, knee and part of shank red-orange; ventral surface of limbs with large black blotches; ventral surface of digits black, tip of digits orange; pectoral gland, femoral gland white; pupils black; iris whitish with radiating black stripes.

Coloration of holotype in preservative. Dorsum creamy white, with black triangle and four wide stripes; a black stripe respectively on both flanks parallel to the dorsolateral stripes; dorsal limbs and digits with black transverse bands; ventral surface pale grayish with small black spots and blotches; creamy white substituted the red-orange in anterior surface of thighs, knee and part of shank; tip of digits whitish without orange.

Description of tadpole. Body slender, oval, flattened above; tail depth slightly larger than body depth, dorsal fin arising behind origin of tail, maximum depth near mid-length, tapering gradually to narrow, pointed tip; tail 2.3–2.8 times body length in 37th –39th stages, tail depth 19% of tail length in 37th stage, 22% in 38th stage, 24%in 39th stage; maximum body width 33% of body length in 37th stage, 43% in 38th stage, 48% in 39th stage; body depth 33% of body length in 37th stage, 43% in 38th stage, 44% in 39th stage; eyes large, lateral; nostril dorsolateral, slightly closer to umbelliform oral disk than to eyes, rim raised; internasal wider than interorbital; spiracle on left side of the body, closer to eye than to end of body; anal tube extends backward above ventral fin, opening medial; oral disk terminal, lips expanded and directed upwardly into typical Xenophrys umbelliform oral disk; transverse width of expanded funnel 41–42% of body length in 37th –39th stages.

Color in life. All upper surfaces brown red with black spots, sides of body pale gray with black marks; ventral surface brown with small black and white marks; sides of tail brown-gray with black and white marks; distal portions of fins orange-red with large black marks; hindlimbs orange-red with gray spots; in preservative, color of body gray-black, tail and hanglimbs creamy white with dark spots.

Measurements of tadpole: 37th stage: 11.4 mm SVL, 31.8 mm TaL; 38th stage: 13.3 mm SVL, 30.1 mm TaL; 39th stage: 13.8 mm SVL, 32.6 mm TaL.

Variation. Measurements and body proportions of type series given in Table 4 .

X. jinggangensis sp. nov. presents obvious sexual dimorphism in secondary sexual characters: SVL in adult females slightly greater than in males, SVL of females 38.4–41.6 mm, SVL of males 35.1–36.7 mm; snout length larger than eye diameter in females, but opposite in males; single subgular vocal sac in adult males; no nuptial pad and nuptial spines were observed in our male specimens.

All five specimens (two males, three females) were very similar in morphology and color pattern. One exception was an individual, found on 10 September, 2011, which featured horn-like conical tubercles that were remarkably prominent at the edges of the eyelids, and had coal black dorsum. ( Figure 4 B)

Distribution and biological ecology. Currently, X. jinggangensis sp. nov. is known only from the type locality, Mount Jinggang, located in the middle of the Luoxiao Range, running along the border between Jiangxi and Hunan Provinces, China. All individuals were found in small, slow-moving montane streams surrounded by moist subtropical evergreen broadleaved forests between 700–850 m elevations ( Figure 1 , 5 ).

All specimens were collected between 10 and 13 September, 2011, and no males were heard calling during the survey. The male paratype SYS a001415 had mature spermaries in the abdominal cavity, measuring 4.9 × 2.4 mm in major axis and minor axis. Female paratype SYS a001416 had a fully developed oviduct without eggs and the ovary fat was fully grown. Tadpoles at Gosner stage 37–44 were found under rocks in the stream on 5 December 2011. Thus, the breeding season of the new species is likely before September.

Etymology. The specific epithet “ jinggangensis ” is in reference to the type locality, Mount Jinggang, Jiangxi Province, China.

Remarks. Only two species of Xenophrys , X. boettgeri and X. minor were previously known occurring at Mount Jinggang ( Zou, 1985). During our herpetological surveys in Mount Jinggang, three apparently different morphotypes of Xenophrys were found, including the new species described herein. Morphologically the other two morphotypes could not be identified as any other Xenophrys species that were recorded from Eastern China ( Y. Y. Wong et al., unpublished data). This indicates the cryptic diversity of the Xenophrys in Mount Jinggang and thus the systematics of the Xenophrys in Eastern China needs to be revisited.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Collecting localities in Southern and Eastern China:? Mt. Jinggang, Jinggangshan City, Jiangxi Province, specimens collected here refer to Xenophrys jinggangensis sp. nov..? and? Mt. Wuyi, Guixi City, Jiangxi Province, specimens collected here refer to X. boettgeri and X. kuatunensis.? Hong Kong, specimens collected here refer to X. brachykolos.? Mt. Nanling, Ruyuan County, Guangdong Province, specimens collected here refer to X. mangshanensis.? Wuhuangling Forest Park, Qinzhou City, Guangxi, specimens collected here refer to Ophryophryne pachyproctus.

FIGURE 5. Habitat of X. jinggangensis at the type locality. Photo Jian Zhao on 5 December 2011.

FIGURE 3. 3 A: Dorsal view of the adult female holotype SYS a 001430 of Xenophrys jinggangensis sp. nov. in life. 3 B: Lateral view of the holotype in life. 3 C and 3 D: Hand and foot of the holotype in life. 3 E and 3 F: Dorsal and ventral views of the holotype in preservative. Photo Ying-Yong Wang and Jiang-Mo Zhang.

FIGURE 4. 4 A: General aspect of the adult female paratype SYS a 001413 in life. 4 B: X. jinggangensis active at night on a rock in a mountain stream on 10 September 2011. 4 C: Dorsal view of X. jinggangensis tadpole at stage 38 of in life on 5 December 2011. 4 D: Ventrolateral view of X. jinggangensis tadpole at stage 37 of in preservative. Photo Ying-Yong Wang and Jian Zhao.