DOI: 10.3897/vz.75.e167008

Authors: Christian Thrane, John V. Lyakurwa, H. Christoph Liedtke, Michele Menegon, Alice Petzold, Simon P. Loader, Mark D. Scherz

Abstract: Abstract For the last century, herpetologists have referred to any Nectophrynoides Noble, 1926 toad characterized by a large, robust body, with large, distinct parotoid glands, as Nectophrynoides viviparus (Tornier, 1905). Consequently, Nectophrynoides viviparus is also considered to have the broadest distribution of all its congeners, with populations ranging from the Tanzanian Southern Highlands, close to the Tanzania-Malawi border, through the Udzungwa and Mahenge Mountains in the south to Uluguru, Rubeho, and Nguru Mountains in the central part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. However, there is underappreciated morphological diversity within what is generally referred to as N. viviparus, and various populations are isolated by large distances and geographical barriers. Recent molecular studies have shown that N. viviparus from the Southern Highlands, the type locality, is genetically distinct from all other N. viviparus populations in the Eastern Arc Mountains, suggesting the existence of a species complex warranting taxonomic revision. Here, we present an integrative taxonomic assessment of southern populations by supplementing the genetic results with the analysis of morphometric and morphological data for 257 specimens assigned to N. viviparus, including museomic data for name-bearing types. Based on the results, we describe three new species from the N. viviparus species complex, covering the southern Eastern Arc Mountains populations. Together with a revised morphological key to the genus and a gazetteer of known populations, we provide Extent of Occurrence and Area of Occupancy for N. viviparus sensu stricto and the new species to investigate their conservation status compared to other members of the genus.

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DOI: 10.3897/vz.73.e98558

Authors: Shuo Qi, Zhi-Tong Lyu, Han-Ming Song, Shi-Chao Wei, Qi-Feng Zhong, Ying-Yong Wang

Abstract: Abstract In this work, we describe a new species of genus Bufo, Bufo exiguus sp. nov. from Mt. Nankun, Guangdong Province, China. This new species can be distinguished from all congeners by significant divergences in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and CO1 genes and by a combination of morphological characters: small body size, tympanum absent, parotoid glands small and olive-shaped, tarsal fold absent, dorsal body with a fine vertebral line and white nuptial spinules present on dorsal and inner surfaces of fingers I and II in males. At present, Bufo exiguus sp. nov. is only known from the slow-flowing montane streams from its type locality and its conservation status should be carefully addressed.

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