The diversity of Asian horned toads is considered highly underestimated and to contain a large number of undescribed cryptic species. In this work, we describe three new species of Boulenophrys from south China, namely, Boulenophrys yaoshanensis sp. nov. from central Guangxi, Boulenophrys yingdeensis sp. nov. from northern Guangdong, and Boulenophrys yunkaiensis sp. nov. from western Guangdong. These three new species can be distinguished from all recognized congeners by a combination of morphological characteristics and significant genetic divergences. These descriptions increase the number of recognized species of Boulenophrys to 61. In addition, an updated checklist of the Asian horned toads of the subfamily Megophryinae is provided in this study.
Hemiboea shimentaiensis (Gesneriaceae), a new species from northern Guangdong, China, is described and illustrated. It is most similar to H. gamosepala, H. rubribracteata and H. malipoensis in the nearly white corolla, which appears in a few species of Hemiboea, and nearly glabrous inner base of the corolla tube. It can be easily distinguished from the latter three species by the stoloniferous habit, distinct silvery veins, glabrous corolla except for a ring of hairs inside, anther coherent along ventral face when young, but cohering apically at maturity, three separate staminodes with lateral ones resembling deformed anthers, and with few sterile pollen grains inside, to antheroids at the tips of the staminodes. The life cycle and fluctuations in the population are unknown and need further study, the conservation status of H. shimentaiensis was not assessed.
A new species of Leaf Litter Toad, Leptobrachella shimentainasp. nov., is described from the Shimentai and Luokeng nature reserves of northern Guangdong Province, southern China. The new taxon can be distinguished from all recognized congeners by a combination of discrete morphological character state differences relating to its small body size (SVL 26.4–28.9 mm in six adult males, 30.1 and 30.7 mm in two adult females); a number of apparently fixed color pattern character differences (including eye coloration and color pattern features from dorsal, ventral, and dorsolateral surfaces of its head, body, limbs, and ventrum); the morphological and discrete characteristics of the external phenotype (the skin texture of dorsum and ventrum, the presence of supra-axillary and ventrolateral glands, the wide dermal fringes and rudimentary webbing on toes, and the uninterrupted longitudinal ridges under toes). Two samples of this new species previously were proposed as representing a new, unnamed species. We now substantiate this claim by providing diagnostic comparisons of discrete character differences. In addition, we also discuss taxonomic uncertainty surrounding the identity of two congeners, L. chishuiensis and L. purpurus, which we interpret as indicative of taxonomic inflation in the species-rich subfamily Megophryidae.
Chamaelirium shimentaiense (Melanthiaceae), a new species from Shimentai Nature Reserve, Guangdong Province, China is described. This species is similar to C. shiwandashanense and C. viridiflorum in having actinomorphic flowers with six tepals and unilocular anthers, but is easily distinguished from them by its strongly undulate leaf blades with crispulate margins and inconspicuous venation, purplish tepals with a slightly broadened and obtuse apex, and purple‐tinged filaments. The infrageneric assignment of this species is discussed and a color plate is provided.
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