Multiple data revealed two new species of the Asian horned toad Megophrys Kuhl & Van Hasselt, 1822 (Anura, Megophryidae) from the eastern corner of the Himalayas

By

Shi, Shengchao
Zhang, Meihua
Wang, Bin
Jiang, Jianping
Liu, Wulin
Ding, Li
Peng, Junwei
Wang, Bin

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

977

Pages

101--161

Subjects

Introgression , molecular phylogenetic analyses , Morphology , Multiple data , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.977.55693

 

Abstract

Multiple disciplines can help to discover cryptic species and resolve taxonomic confusions. The Asian horned toad genusMegophryssensu latoas a diverse group was proposed to contain dozens of cryptic species. Based on molecular phylogenetics, morphology, osteology, and bioacoustics data, the species profiles ofMegophrystoads in the eastern corner of Himalayas in Medog County, Tibet Autonomous Region, China was investigated. The results indicated that this small area harbored at least fourMegophrysspecies, i.e.,M. medogensis,M. pachyproctus,Megophrys zhouisp. nov., andMegophrys yeaesp. nov., the latter two being described in this study. Additionally, the mitochondrial DNA trees nested the low-middle-elevation and high-elevation groups ofM. medogensisinto a monophyletic group, being in discordance with the paraphyletic relationship between them revealed in the nuclear DNA trees. The findings highlighted the underestimated biodiversity in Himalayas, and further indicated that theMegophrystoads here have been probably experienced complicated evolutionary history, for example, introgression between clades or incomplete lineage sorting and niche divergences in microhabitats. Anyway, it is urgent for us to explore the problems because these toads are suffering from increasing threats from human activities and climatic changes.