Kuatun Horned Toad

description

Colouration in life: Not recorded. Variation: Refer to Table 5 for morphometric variation for five adult males and four adult females. Adult male SVL for eight paratypes ranges from 28.3 to 31.4 mm. Finger length formula varied slightly, IV Ĺ I ”), parietoscapular-middorsal ridge (“> – ”), complete parietoscapular-sacral ridge (“> - <“). The holotype is the only male with no dermal asperities. AMNH 30240 has small white spinular dermal asperities sparsely distributed on tops of tubercles and on the parietoscapular fold on the anterior dorsum, becoming moderately dense posteriorly; on AMNH 30241, asperities are visible from approximately mid trunk length, increasingly in density posteriorly; on AMNH 30242 and AMNH 30243, asperities are sparse on the tympanic region and on posterior lateral surfaces of head and anterior lateral dorsum, sparse on anterior central dorsum but from mid dorsum increases in density posteriorly. Asperities are absent from all remaining surfaces on these specimens. FMNH 204411 is the only female with dermal asperities with just a few scattered on the posterior dorsum. Colouration in preservation of examined paratypes differed from holotype based on the f

The Vietnamese population of Megophrys kuatunensis (Amphibia: Megophryidae) represents a new species of Asian horned frog from Vietnam and southern China

discussion

Remarks: Pope (1929) provided a relatively detailed description of the holotype of his new species, M. kuatunensis, including a brief comparison with M. boettgeri and M. minor. He later expanded on this description providing a figure of the holotype, a detailed variation section, and morphological and biological comparison with the sympatric M. boettgeri (Pope 1931). The type series of Megophrys kuatunensis was based on the holotype and 31 paratypes (Pope 1929). Pope (1931: 445) included an additional specimen as a paratype, AMNH 30324, stating that “ An additional specimen has been found since the appearance of the original description which listed only 31 paratypes ”. This action does not validate AMNH 30324 as a paratype, and thus this specimen is not available for lectotype designation in the future should the holotype become lost / destroyed (International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature 1999). Within the section titled “ Notes on paratypes ”, Pope (1929) includes a statement that “ Tadpoles were secured ”, neither designating a museum number, nor counting them among the 31 specimens referred to directly as paratypes, indicating that Pope did not intend to regard these t

The Vietnamese population of Megophrys kuatunensis (Amphibia: Megophryidae) represents a new species of Asian horned frog from Vietnam and southern China

distribution

Distribution (Fig. 10): To our knowledge, the presence of M. kuatunensis has only been positively confirmed with molecular data in Fujian and Jiangxi provinces (Li et al. 2014; Wang et al. 2014; Chen et al. 2017). The IUCN Red List assessment for this species indicates a much wider distribution (Huiqing et al. 2004) including locations in Zhejiang, Hunan and Guangxi provinces. Geological barriers exist between these locations that may limit the dispersal of Megophrys. The identity of populations assigned to M. kuatunensis in Zhejiang, Hunan and Guangxi provinces should be confirmed with molecular data.

The Vietnamese population of Megophrys kuatunensis (Amphibia: Megophryidae) represents a new species of Asian horned frog from Vietnam and southern China

materials_examined

Holotype: Adult male (AMNH 30126), type locality: “ Kuatun [Village], Chungan Hsien, northwest Fukien Province, China, 5500 – 6000 feet. ” (= Guadun [ca. 27 ° 40 ’ N, 117 ° 40 ’ E, ca. 1675 – 1830 m asl], Wuyishan County, Nanping Prefecture, Fujian Province), collected by Clifford H. Pope, April – September 1926 (Pope 1929, 1931). Paratypes: AMNH 30123 – 30124; AMNH 30239 – 30258, FMNH 24406 (formerly AMNH 30230), FMNH 24408 (formerly AMNH 30232), FMNH 24411 – 24413 (formerly AMNH 30235 – 30237), BMNH 1961.956 (formerly AMNH 30238, then FMNH 24414), BMNH 1985.1294 (formerly AMNH 30234, then FMNH 24410), BMNH 1985.1295 (formerly AMNH 30231, then FMNH 24407), MCZ 28297 (formerly AMNH 30233, then FMNH 24409). Examined specimens: Full morphological datasets were taken for five adult males, holotype and paratypes (AMNH 30126, 30240 – 30241, 30243 – 30244), and four adult female paratypes (AMNH 30242, BMNH 1961.956, BMNH 1985.1295, FMNH 24411). SVL measurements were taken for three additional adult male paratypes (FMNH 24406, FMNH 24412 – 24413). Holotype description: (Figs. 8 & 9; Table 5 for measurements): Sexually mature adult male. Head moderately small, width subequal to length; sno

The Vietnamese population of Megophrys kuatunensis (Amphibia: Megophryidae) represents a new species of Asian horned frog from Vietnam and southern China