A species of the genus Panophrys (Anura, Megophryidae) from southeastern Guizhou Province, China

Herein, we describe Panophrys congjiangensis sp. nov. obtained from the Yueliangshan Nature Reserve, Congjiang County, Guizhou Province, China. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial genes 16S rRNA and COI indicated that this new species represented an independent lineage, closely related to P. leishanensis. The uncorrected genetic distances between the new species and its closest congener, P. leishanensis, were 3.0% for 16S rRNA and 8.4% for COI. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characteristics (1) medium body size (SVL 28.6-33.4 mm in males and 38.4-40.2 mm in females); (2) a small horn-like tubercle at the edge of each upper eyelid; (3) the tympanum distinctly visible (TD/ED ratio 0.47-0.66); (4) vomerine teeth absent; (5) the tongue not notched behind; (6) a narrow and unobvious lateral fringe on toes; (7) relative finger lengths II < I < V < III; (8) rudimentary webs on toes; (9) hindlimbs slender, heels overlapping when thighs are positioned at right angles to the body; (10) two metacarpal tubercles on the palm, with the inner metatarsal tubercle long and oval-shaped; (11) the tibiotarsal articulation reaching the nostril when the leg is adpressed and stretched forward; (12) dorsal skin rough with numerous orange-red granules, ventral surface smooth; (13) a single internal subgular vocal sac present in males; and (14) in breeding males, weak gray-black nuptial pads with black nuptial spines present on the dorsal surface of the bases of the first and second fingers. To date, the new species is only known from the type locality.

Automated summary

This study introduces a new species of Panophrys congjiangensis sp. nov. discovered in Yueliangshan Nature Reserve, Congjiang County, Guizhou Province, China. Phylogenetic analyses reveal it to be an independent lineage closely related to P. leishanensis, with distinct morphological characteristics that differentiate it from its congeners, emphasizing its uniqueness within the genus.