A new species of the Asian leaf litter toad genus Leptobrachella, L.dayaoshanensis sp. nov., is described based on phylogenetic analysis, morphological characters, and bioacoustic data. This species occurs in the Dayaoshan National Nature Reserve located in Jinxiu County, Guangxi, China. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that this new species is closely related to L.verrucosa, as demonstrated by phylogenetic trees. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) medium size (mean snout-vent length (SVL) of 27.9 ± 0.7 mm, range 26.6-28.9 mm in males; 34.4 mm in female); (2) rough dorsal surface featuring small, raised tubercles and ridges; (3) flanks adorned with irregular black spots and creamy white glands; (4) creamy white ventral surface with sparse light-brown spots and irregular tiny textures; (5) brown throat and chest; (6) rudimentary toe webbing; (7) wide lateral fringes on toes; (8) distinct continuous ventrolateral glandular line; (9) tibiotarsal articulation reaching the midpoint of eye when the leg is extended forward; (10) heels that do not meet when thighs are appressed at right angles to body; (11) bicolored iris, with the upper half being copper and gradually transitioning to silver in the lower half; and (12) advertisement calls consisting of two model types, with dominant frequencies of 4.2-6.8 kHz at 21.0 °C. The new species has a breeding season that occurs from March to April and is found in evergreen forests at elevations between 1,000 and 1,600 m.
Keywords: Bioacoustics; cryptic diversity; morphology; phylogeny; taxonomy.
Gui-Dong Yu, Kun Qin, Tao Meng, Peng Li, Wan-Xiao Peng, Wei-Cai Chen.