Discovery of a new limestone karst-restricted odorous frog from northern Guangdong, China (Anura, Ranidae, Odorrana)

By

Lin, Shi-Shi
Li, Yuan-Hang
Su, Hong-Lin
Yi, Hui
Pan, Zhong
Sun, Yan-Jun
Zeng, Zhaochi
Wang, Jian (Herpetologist)

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1120

Pages

47--66

Subjects

Conservation , endemism , karstic landscapes , Phylogeny , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1120.87067

 

Abstract

Karstic landscapes play an important role in biodiversity formation and often contain high levels of endemism. However, site-endemic taxa in karstic landscapes are being threatened by exploitation and weak legal protection. In this study, we describe Odorrana concelata Wang, Zeng, & Lin, sp. nov., a limestone karst-restricted odorous frog from northern Guangdong, China. This new species shows distinctive genetic divergence and morphological differences from its congeners. Phylogenetic results suggest that the new species represents an independent lineage that is grouped with O. lipuensis and O. liboensis based on the mitochondrial 16S and 12S ribosomal RNA genes. We recommend the new species be listed as Vulnerable (VU) in the IUCN categorization as it is only known from the type locality with limited microhabitats and is threatened by habitat degradation.