Review of the genus Brachytarsophrys (Anura: Megophryidae), with revalidation of Brachytarsophrys platyparietus and description of a new species from China

The genus-level recognition of monophyletic shortlegged toads (Brachytarsophrys) has been recently implicated in the taxonomic debate of Megophrys sensu lato. In the present study, Brachytarsophrys is reasonably regarded as a distinct genus based on significant morphological differentiations and rec...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Dōngwùxué yánjiū 2020-03, Vol.41 (2), p.105-122
Main Authors: Li, Yao, Zhang, Dan-Dan, Lyu, Zhi-Tong, Wang, Jian, Li, Yu-Long, Liu, Zu-Yao, Chen, Hong-Hui, Rao, Ding-Qi, Jin, Zhifang, Zhang, Chang-You, Wang, Ying-Yong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amphibiotic species
Brachytarsophrys
Brachytarsophrys platyparietus
Cytochrome
Debates
Divergence
Morphology
Museums
New species
Phylogenetics
Phylogeny
Taxonomy
Toads
Zoology
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The genus-level recognition of monophyletic shortlegged toads (Brachytarsophrys) has been recently implicated in the taxonomic debate of Megophrys sensu lato. In the present study, Brachytarsophrys is reasonably regarded as a distinct genus based on significant morphological differentiations and recent molecular analyses. Furthermore, a comprehensive review of this genus is performed, with two species groups proposed based on morphological differences and phylogenetic relationships. Particularly, Brachytarsophrys platyparietus is removed as a synonym of Brachytarsophrys carinense and considered a valid species due to significant genetic divergence and distinct morphological differences. In addition, a new species, Brachytarsophrys orientalis sp. nov., is described based on a series of specimens collected from southeastern China. This work takes the member species of the genus Brachytarsophrys to seven, suggesting that the diversity of Brachytarsophrys is underestimated. In addition, the genus levels of other monophyletic groups within the subfamily Megophryinae are discussed.
ISSN:0254-5853
DOI:10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.033