Tuesday, July 12, 2011

[Herpetology • 2010] Megophrys tuberogranulatus | • Horned Frog from the northwestern Hunan Province, southern China



Megophrys tuberogranulatus Mo, Shen, Li & Wu, 2010


Abstract
A new species of Megophrys (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae), Megophrys tuberogranulatus Shen, Mo et Li, sp. nov. (Holotype HNUL 03080902, adult male, SVL: 38.2 mm), from Sangzhi County, Hunan Province, is described. Megophrys tuberogranulatus is closely related to both Megophrys kuatunensis and Megophrys minor. Characters of the new species that differentiate this species from close relatives are skin granulated with big tubercles on the dorsal sides of both thigh and tibia, the bigger inner metacarpal tubercle, upper eyelid wider than the interorbital space, hind limbs longer, overlapping of the left andright calcaneal parts. The type specimens are deposited in the Animal Museum of Life Sciences College of Hunan Normal University

Key words: Zootaxy, Megophryidae, Megophrys, New species, China


Fig. 2 Photos of Megophrys tuberogranulatus Shen, Mo et Li, sp. nov.
(Holotype HNUL 03080902, adult male, SVL: 38.2)


Type locality: Tianzishan Nature Reserve, Sangzhi County, Hunan Province, China. (29°20′-29°50′N, 110°20′-110°30′E), elevation 1130 m, collected in August 9, 1988 by Youhui Shen.

Holotype: HNUL 03080902, adult male, SVL:38.2 mm.

Etymology: The new species’s skin is granulated with tubercles, especially big tubercles on the dorsalsides of thighs and tibias, so it is named Megophrys tuberogranulatus sp. nov.

Fig. 1 Biological picture of Megophrys tuberogranulatus Shen, Mo et Li, sp. nov.
Holotype HNUL 03080902, adult male, Sangzhi, Hunan, China.
a. Lateral view. b. Dorsal view.
c. Left hand and left foot ventral view. d. Ventral view.

References
Mo, X.Y. , Y.H. Shen , H.H. Li & X.S. Wu, 2010: A new species of Megophrys (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from the northwestern Hunan Province, China. Current Zoology 56(4): 432-436. Full article.