Annual Review: New Taxa and Taxonomic Changes of Chinese Herpetofauna in 2017

How to cite: Kai WANG, Hongman CHEN, Jinlong REN, 2018. Annual Review: New Taxa and Taxonomic Changes of Chinese Herpetofauna in 2017. Published online at AmphibiaChina (http://www.amphibiachina.org/news/55-56).[PDF](Download)







Annual Review: New Taxa and Taxonomic Changes of Chinese Herpetofauna in 2017


Kai Wang1,2, Hongman Chen1, Jinlong Ren3


1 Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China

2 Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA

3 Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China



In 2017, a total of 22 new species and two new subspecies of amphibians and reptiles were described from China, including taxa in four orders (Anuran, Caudata, Squamata, and Testudines), 10 families (Megophryidae, Ranidae, Rhacophoridae, and Salamandridae for amphibians; Agamidae, Colubridae, Geoemydidae, Lacertidae, Scincidae, and Viperidae for reptiles), and 17 genera (11 genera of amphibians, six genera in reptiles). Furthermore, four amphibian species were recorded from southern Yunnan Province as new national records of China at the first time (genus Theloderma, Xenophrys, Paramesotriton and Tylototriton) (details see below).


Most new species were described from the genus Xenophrys (four species) from southeastern and southwestern China, followed by Rhacophorus and Opisthotropis (two species for each genus) from southeastern China. Geographically, the type localities and distribution ranges of the new taxa were scattered across China, expanding 14 provinces (including the Diaoyu Islands of Taiwan); and of the total species discovered, a high number of them were discovered from southeastern China, particularly in Guangdong (four species) and Anhui (three new species, one new subspecies) Provinces. Such geographic distribution of new taxa differs from the one of the previous year, where most new species were discovered from Yunnan and Tibet in southwestern China (Wang & Chen, 2017[22]). 


In summary, there are 468 species of amphibians and about 481 species of reptiles currently recognized from Mainland China and Taiwan (Cai et al., 2015[1]; Wang & Chen, 2017[22]). 


New Taxa Described in 2017  





Amphibia  


Amolops xinduqiao (Sichuan)[4]  

Photo by Yufan Wang


Buergeria otai (Taiwan)[24]  

From Wang et al., 2017[24]


Gracixalus jinggangensis (Jiangxi)[30]  

Photo by Zhitong Lyu 


 Kurixalus lenquanensis (Yunnan)[28]  

Photo by Kai Wang


Leptolalax maoershanensis (Guangxi)[29]  

From Yuan et al., 2017[29]


Odorrana arunachalensis (Tibet)[16]   

Note: The vague morphological diagnosis and colored photos provided by Saikia et al., 2017 do not support the generic placement of the species in the genus Odorrana; and based on the appearances of the types, this species closely resembles morphological characteristics of the genus Nanorana.

From Saikia et al., (2017)[16]. Top row: male holotype; bottom row: female paratype


Nidirana nankunensis (Guangdong)[8]  

From Lyu et al., 2017[8]


Rana dabieshanensis (Anhui)[20]  

From Wang et al., 2017[20]


Rana luanchuanensis (Henan)[32]  

From Zhao et al., 2017[32]


Rhacophorus zhoukaiyae (Anhui) [12]  

From Pan et al., 2017 [12]


Rhacophorus lishuiensis (Zhejiang) [7]  

Photo by Yufan Wang


Megophrys (Xenophrys) rubrimera (Yunnan) [18]  

From Tapley et al., 2017 [18]


Xenophrys insularis (Guangdong) [21] 

From Wang et al., 2017 [21]


Xenophrys liboensis (Guizhou) [31]  

From Zhang et al., 2017 [31]


Xenophrys lishuiensis (Zhejiang) [25]  

Photo by Yufan Wang


Tylototriton anhuiensis (Anhui) [13]  

From Qian et al., 2017 [13]



Reptilia  


Coura aurocapitata dabieshani (Anhui) [19]  

From Torsten et al., 2017. [19]


Coura trifasciata luteocephala (Hainan) [19]  

From Torsten et al., 2017. [19]


Gloydius rubromaculatus (Qinghai) [17]  

From Shi et al., 2017 [17]


Opisthotropis shenzhenensis (Guangdong) [26]  

From Wang et al., 2017 [26]


Opisthotropis zhaoermii (Hunan) [15]  

From Ren et al., 2017 [15]


Japalura slowinskii (Yunnan) [14]  

Photos by Kai Wang


Plestiodon takarai (Taiwan, Diaoyu Island) [6]  

From Kurita et al., 2017 [6]


Takysdromus albomaculosus (Guangdong) [27]  

From Wang et al., 2017.[27] Left: male; Right: female.



Taxonomic changes and Revisions  



Tylototriton ziegleri was recorded from southern Yunnan Province as a new record of China[10].


From Nishikawa et al., 2013.[11] male holotype of Tylototriton ziegleri, taken from original descripton of the species. 


Parasesotriton deloustali was recorded from southern Yunnan Province as a new record of China[33].

Photo by Jinlong Ren


Amolops kangtingensis was synonymized as a junior synonym of A. mantzorum[4].


From Fei et al., 2017.[4] Topotypic specimen of A. mantzorum.


The nomenclature of Nidirana was resurrected as a valid genus based on phylogenetic, morphological, and acoustic data. Furthermore, N. caldwelli was synonymized as junior synonym of N. adenopleura. After the revision, the genus contains eight species, including N. okinawana, N. adenopleura, N. hainanensis, N. chapaensis, N. daunchina, N. lini, and N. pleuraden[8].


From Lyu et al., 2017 [8]



Theloderma kwangsiense was synonymized as a junior synonym of T. corticale. In addition, Theloderma bicolor was recorded from southern Yunnan Province of China at the first time. To date, there are six species of Theloderma recorded from China, including T. albopunctatum, T. baibengense, T. bicolor, T. corticale, T. moloch, and T. rhododiscus[9].


From Hou et al., 2017.[9] A–F represent the six recognized species of Theloderma from China, which are (A) T. albopunctatum, (B) T. baibengense, (C) T. bicolor, (D) T. corticale, (E) T. moloch, and (F) T. rhododiscus


The genus Megophrys sensu lato was split into three genera based on phylogenetic and morphological data, which includes Megophrys sensu stricto, Atympanophrys, and Xenophrys. Members of Megophrys sensu lato from China are now moved to the genus Atympanophrys and Xenophrys. In addition, X. maosonensis was recorded as a new record of amphibian of China (from southeastern Yunnan Province)[2].


From Chen et al., 2017 [2]


Plestiodon chinensis leucostictus was elevated to full species status based on phylogenetic and morphological data, and the populations from eastern Taiwan are assigned to P. leucostictus. In addition, given the close genetic distance and highly similar morphology, the authors suggest that P. c. formosensis may be a junior synonym of the nominate subspecies, P. c. chinensis[6].


From Kurita et al., 2017[6]. Left column: Plestiodon chinensis formosensis from Taiwan; right column: P. leucostictus. Each row of the same column represents different age group of the same species.

Japalura yulongensis was rediscovered from the wild at the first time after the initial collections of type materials in 1914. Additional populations were discovered in Lijiang and Shangri–La Counties of northwest Yunnan Province, China[23]. 


From Wang et al., 2017 [23]


Opisthotropis maxwelli and O. andersonii were rediscovered and redescribed based on additional specimens[26].


From Wang et al., 2017[26]. Left two columns: Opisthotropis maxwelli; right two columns: O. andersonii.


The genus Orthriophis was synonymized as a junior synonym of Elaphe once again based on genomic data. Following such taxonomic change, O. cantoris, O. hodgsoni, O. moellendorffi, and O. taeniurus were transferred back to the genus Elaphe. [3]

From Chen et al., 2017 [3]



References  

[1] Cai, B., Wang, Y.Z., Chen, Y.Y. and Li, J.T., 2015. A revised taxonomy for Chinese reptiles. Biodiversity Science, 23(3), 365–382.


[2] Chen, J.M., Zhou, W.W., Poyarkov, N.A., Stuart, B.L., Brown, R.M., Lathrop, A., Wang, Y.Y., Yuan, Z.Y., Jiang, K., Hou, M., Chen, H.M., Suwannapoomm, C., Nguyen, S.G., Duong, T.V., Papenfuss, T.J., Murphy, R.W., Zhang, Y.P. and Che, J., 2017. A novel multilocus phylogenetic estimation reveals unrecognized diversity in Asian horned toads, genus Megophrys sensu lato (Anura: Megophryidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, (106), 28–43.


[3] Chen, X., Lemmon A.R., Lemmon E.M., Pyron R.A. and Burbrink, F.T., 2017. Using phylogenomics to understand the link between biogeographic origins and regional diversification in ratsnakes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, (111), 206–218.


[4] Fei, L., Ye, C.Y., Wang, Y.F. and Jiang, K., 2017. A new species of the genus Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from high–altitude Sichuan, southwestern China, with a discussion on the taxonomic status of Amolops kangtingensis. Zoological Research, 38(3), 138–145.


[5] Kurita, K., Nakamura, Y., Okamoto, T., Lin, S.M. and Hikida, T., 2017. Taxonomic reassessment of two subspecies of Chinese skink in Taiwan based on morphological and molecular investigations (Squamata, Scincidae). ZooKeys, (687), 131–148.


[6] Kurita, K., Hidetoshi, O. and Tsutomu, H., 2017. A new species of Plestiodon (Squamata: Scincidae) from the Senkaku Group, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Zootaxa, 4254(5), 520–536.


[7] Liu, B.Q., Wang, Y.F., Jiang, K., Chen, H.M., Xu, J. N. and Wu, C.H., 2017. A new species of the genus Rhacophorus found in Zhejiang, China (Anura: Rhacophoridae). Chinese Journal of Zoology, 52(3), 361–372.


[8] Lyu, Z.T., Zeng, Z.C., Wang, J., Lin, C.Y., Liu, Z.Y. and Wang, Y.Y., 2017. Resurrection of genus Nidirana (Anura: Ranidae) and synonymizing N. caldwelli with N. adenopleura, with description of a new species from China. Amphibia–Reptilia, 38(4), 483–502.


[9] Hou, M., Yu, G.H., Chen, H.M., Liao, C.L., Zhang, L., Chen, J., Li, P.P., and Orlov, N.L., 2017. The taxonomic status and distribution range of six Theloderma species (Anura: Rhacophoridae) with a new record in China. Russian Journal of Herpetology, 24(2), 99–127.


[10] Jiang, Y., Wei, Z.M., Han, F.Y., Ni, Q.Y., Yao, Y.F., Xu, H.L., Li, Y., Rao, D.Q., Zhang, M,W., 2017.The complete mitogenome sequence of Tylototriton ziegleri(Amphibia: Caudata). Conservation Genet Resour, 9:503–506.


[11] Nishikawa, K., M. Matsui, and T. T. Nguyen. 2013. A New Species of Tylototriton from northern Vietnam (Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae). Current Herpetology. Kyoto 32: 34–49. 


[12] Pan, T., Zhang, Y.N., Wang, H., Wu, J., Kang, X., Qian, L.F., Li, K., Zhang, Y., Chen, J.Y., Rao, D.Q. and Jiang, J.P., 2017. A new species of the genus Rhacophorus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Dabie Mountains in East China. Asian Herpetological Research, 8(1), 1–13.


[13] Qian, L.F., Sun, X.N., Li, J.Q., Guo, W.B., Pan, T., Kang, X., Wang, H., Jiang, J.P., Wu, J. and Zhang, B.W., 2017. A new species of the genus Tylototriton (Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae) from the Southern Dabie Mountains in Anhui Province. Asian Herpetological Research, 8(3), 151–164.


[14] Rao, D.Q., Vindum, J.V., Ma, X.H., Fu, M.X. and Wilkinson, J.A., 2017. A new species of Japalura (Squamata, Agamidae) from the Nu River Valley in Southern Hengduan Mountains, Yunnan, China. Asian Herpetological Research, 8(2), 86–95.


[15] Ren, J.L., Wang, K., Jiang, K., Guo, P. and Li, J.T., 2017. A new species of the Southeast Asian genus Opisthotropis (Serpentes: Colubridae: Natricinae) from western Hunan, China. Zoological Research, 38(5), 251–263.


[16] Saikia, B., Sinha, B. and Kharkongor, I., 2017. Odorrana arunachalensis: a new species of Cascade Frog (Anura: Ranidae) from Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Journal of Bioresources, 4(2): 30–41.


[17] Shi, J.,S, Wang, G., Chen, X.E., Fang, Y.H., Ding, L., Huang, S., Hou, M., Liu, J. and Li, P.P., 2017. A new moth–preying alpine pit viper species from Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (Viperidae, Crotalinae). Amphibia–Reptilia, 38(4), 517–532.


[18] Tapley, B., Cutajar, T., Mahony, S., Nguyen, C.T., Dau, V.Q., Nguyen, T.T., Van Luong, H. and Rowley, J.J., 2017. The Vietnamese population of Megophrys kuatunensis (Amphibia: Megophryidae) represents a new species of Asian horned frog from Vietnam and southern China. Zootaxa, 4344(3), 465–492.


[19] Torsten, B., Zhou, T., Li, Y., Tomas, P., Paul, C., Ralph, T., 2017. New subspecies of Cuora cyclornata (Blanck, Mccord & Le, 2006), Cuora trifasciata (Bell, 1825), and Cuora auracapitata (Luo & Zhong, 1988). Sichuan Journal of Zoology, 36(4), 368–385.


[20] Wang, C., Qian, L., Zhang, C., Guo, W., Pan, T., Wu, J., Wang, H.  and Zhang, B., 2017. A new species of Rana from the Dabie Mountains in eastern China (Anura, Ranidae). ZooKeys 724, 135–153.


[21] Wang, J., Liu, Z.Y., Lyu, Z.T., Zeng, Z.C. and Wang, Y.Y., 2017. A new species of the genus Xenophrys (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from an offshore island in Guangdong Province, southeastern China. Zootaxa, 4324(3), 541–556.


[22] Wang, K. and Chen H.M., 2017. Annual Review: Taxonomic Changes and Novelties of Herpetofauna from China in 2016. Published online on AmphibiaChina (http://www.amphibiachina.org/news/41).


[23] Wang, K., Ren, J.L., Jiang, K., Yuan, Z.Y., Che, J. and Siler, C.D., 2017. Rediscovery of the enigmatic Mountain Dragon, Japalura yulongensis (Reptilia: Sauria: Agamidae), with notes on its natural history and conservation. Zootaxa, 4318(2), 351–363.


[24] Wang, Y.H., Hsiao, Y.W., Lee, K.H., Tseng, H.Y., Lin, Y.P., Komaki, S. and Lin, S.M., 2017. Acoustic differentiation and behavioral response reveals cryptic species within Buergeria treefrogs (Anura, Rhacophoridae) from Taiwan. PloS one, 12(9), e0184005.


[25] Wang, Y.F, Liu, B.Q., Jiang, K., Jin, W., Xu, J.N. and Wu, C.H., 2017. A new species of the horn toad of the genus Xenophrys from Zhejiang, China (Amphibia: Megophryidae). Chinese Journal of Zoology, 52(1), 19–29.


[26] Wang, Y.Y., Guo, Q., Liu, Z.Y., Lyu, Z.T., Wang, J., Luo, L., Sun, Y.J. and Zhang, Y.W., 2017. Revisions of two poorly known species of Opisthotropis Günther, 1872 (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae) with description of a new species from China. Zootaxa, 4247(4), 391–412.


[27] Wang, Y.Y., Gong, S.P., Liu, P. and Wang, X., 2017. A new species of the genus Takydromus (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Tianjingshan Forestry Station, northern Guangdong, China. Zootaxa, 4338(3), 441–458.


[28] Yu, G.H., Wang, J.S., Hou, M., Rao, D.Q. and Yang, J.X., 2017. A new species of the genus Kurixalus from Yunnan, China (Anura, Rhacophoridae). ZooKeys, (694), 71–93.


[29] Yuan, Z.Y., Sun, R.D., Chen, J.M., Rowley, J. J. L., Wu, Z.J., Hou, S.B. and Che, J., 2017. A new species of the genus Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from Guangxi, China. Zootaxa 4300(4), 551–570.


[30] Zeng, Z.C., Zhao, J., Chen, C.Q., Chen, G.L., Zhang, Z. and Wang, Y.Y., 2017. A new species of the genus Gracixalus (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Mount Jinggang, southeastern China. Zootaxa, 4250(2), 171–185.


[31] Zhang, Y.N., Li, G., Xiao, N., Li, J.Q., Pan, T., Wang, H., Zhang, B.W. and Zhou, J., 2017. A new species of the genus Xenophrys (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae) from Libo County, Guizhou, China. Asian Herpetological Research, 8(2), 75–85.


[32] Zhao, H.P., Yang, J.X., Wang, C.P., Li, P.P., Murphy R.W., Che, J. and Yuan, Z.Y., 2017. A new species of the genus Rana from Henan, central China (Anura, Ranidae). ZooKeys, (694), 95–108.


[33] Zhang, M., Han, F., Ye, J., Ni, Q., Li, Y., Yao, Y. and Xu, H., 2017. The entire mitochondrial genome of Vietnam Warty Newt Paramesotriton deloustali (Salamandridae: Paramesotriton) with a new distribution record from China. Conservation Genetics Resources, 1–4.