Description of six new species of the subgenus Panophrys within the genus Megophrys (Anura, Megophryidae) from southeastern China based on molecular and morphological data

By

Wang, Jian (Herpetologist)
Lyu, Zhi-Tong
Liu, Zuyao
Liao, Chengkai
Zeng, Zhaochi
Zhao, Jian
Li, Yulong
Wang, Ying-Yong

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

851

Pages

113-164

Subjects

Biogeography , Conservation , Megophrys , southeastern China , Speciation , Species diversity , subgenus Panophrys

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.851.29107

 

Abstract

The diversity of the subgenus Panophrys within the genus Megophrys has been revealed to be extremely underestimated from southeastern China. Herpetological surveys coupled with extensive sampling in a longitudinal mountain belt located in southeastern China resulted in the discoveries of six new species of the subgenus Panophrys. Furthermore, the new discoveries support the findings of “micro-endemism”, “sympatric phenomenon” and “sympatric but distant phylogenetically” which appear to be common among Panophrys species, and also indicates that the Asian horned toads would be good candidates for studies on speciation and biogeography, and additionally emphasizes the conservation difficulties of these toads.