Taxonomic revision of Amolops chunganensis(Pope,1929)(Amphibia: Anura) and description of a new species from southwestern China, with discussion on Amolops monticola group and assignment of species groups of the genus Amolops

Amolops chunganensis is a species complex and reported widely from eastern,southern,and southwestern China.Based on molecular data of 19 populations of A.chunganensis sensu lato from China,including the population from Mt.Wuyi(type locality),we recognize A.chunganensis sensu stricto and provide an expanded description based on the topotypic specimens.Combining morphological and molecular data,we describe a new species,Amolops chaochin sp.nov.,from southwestern China,which was previously identified as A.chunganensis.The new species is distinguished from all other species in the A.monticola group by:(1)moderate body size,SVL 35.3-39.2 mm in males(n=7),and 50.5-54.4 mm in females(n=7);(2)distinct tympanum,larger than half of eye diameter;(3)small tooth-like projection on anteromedial edge of mandible;(4)circummarginal groove on all fingers;(5)white tubercles on dorsal side of posterior body in both sexes;(6)distinct tubercles on dorsal thigh and white spinose tubercles on dorsal tibia in both sexes;(7)white tubercles on posterior region of tympanum in males;(8)toe webbing reaching disk by dermal fringe on inner side of toe II;(9)vomerine teeth present;(10)transverse bands on dorsal limbs;(11)external vocal sacs present in males.We further reviewed the assignment of Amolops groups,with an overall revision of membership and diagnosis of all species groups.

A New Species of the Amolops mantzorum Group (Anura: Ranidae: Amolops) from Northwestern Hunan Province, China

We described anew species of the Amolops mantzorum group(Anura:Ranidae) from northwestern Hunan Province,China based on morphological and molecular evidence.The new species differs from its congeners by a combination of the following characteristics:moderate body size of SVL 403-409 mm in adult males(N=3),and 52.6-57.7 mm in adult females(N=3);head length about equal to or larger than head width(HDL/HDW 1.01-1.03);skin on dorsum smooth;dorsolateral folds absent,but developed a series of elongated glands forming an incomplete line;dense small spiny tubercles on lower flanks,and sparse flat tubercles on upper flanks;skin on belly slightly granular,posterior half of ventral surface of thigh glandular;tympanum indistinct,small,covered by glandular skin;presence of dense spiny tubercles around the mouth corner;vomerine teeth present,attached on two oblique ridges;presence of supernumerary tubercles below the bases of fingers Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ;several protruding tubercles around the cloacal region,with a pair of larger tubercles on sides of the anus;webs on each side of toe Ⅳ reaches the region between third subarticular tubercle and digit;and absence of vocal sacs and linea masculine in males.

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

A new species of the genus Amolops Cope, 1865 is described from Xinduqiao, Kangding, Sichuan. It was previously identified as Amolops kangtingensis, which is synonymized to Amolops mantzorum in this study. The new species, Amolops xinduqiao sp. nov., is distinguished from all other congeners by the following combination of characters： （1） medium body size, adult males SVL 41.2-47.5 mm （n=15, average 43.9 mm）, adult females SVL 48.5-56.6 mm （n=15, average 52.5 mm）; （2） head length equal to width or slightly wider than long; （3） tympanum small, but distinct; （4） vomerine teeth in two tiny rows, separated by a space about one vomerine teeth row; （5） bony projections on lower jaw absent; （6） dorsolateral folds usually absent; （7） tarsal folds or glands on tarsus absent; （8） circummarginal groove on disc of finger I absent; （9） tibiotarsal articulation reaching nostril or beyond; （10） webs of toe IV reaching to distal articulation, other toes fully webbed to disc; and （11） vocal sac absent in males.

A new species of the genus Amolops （Amphibia： Ranidae） from southeastern Tibet, China

A new species of the genus Amolops Cope, 1865 is described from Nyingchi, southeastern Tibet, China, based on morphological and molecular data. The new species, Amolops nyingchiensis sp. nov. is assigned to the Amolops monticola group based on its skin smooth, dorsolateral fold distinct, lateral side of head black, upper lip stripe white extending to the shoulder. Amolops nyingchiensis sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species of Amolops by the following combination of characters： （1） medium body size, SVL 48.5-58.3 mm in males, and 57.6-70.7 mm in females; （2） tympanum distinct, slightly larger than one third of the eye diameter; （3） a small tooth-like projection on anteromedial edge of mandible; （4） the absence of white spine on dorsal surface of body; （5） the presence of circummarginal groove on all fingers; （6） the presence of vomerine teeth; （7） background coloration of dorsal surface brown, lateral body gray with yellow; （8） the presence of transverse bands on the dorsal limbs; （9） the presence of nuptial pad on the first finger in males; （10） the absence of vocal sac in males. Taxonomic status of the populations that were previously identified to A. monticola from Tibet is also discussed.

A new species of Amolops(Anura:Ranidae)from northern Myanmar

DEAR EDITOR,A new species of the genus Amolops,Amolops putaoensis sp.nov.,is described from northern Myanmar.The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters:(1)dorsolateral fold distinct;(2)upper-lip stripe white;(3)male body size 37.6-40.2 mm;(4)ground color of dorsal surface brown,flank green,small warts on dorsum.

Description of a New Species of Amolops (Anura:Ranidae) from Tibet,China

A new species,Amolops pallasitatus sp.nov.is described based on specimens collected from Chentang Town,Dinggyê County,southern Tibet,China.The new species can be distinguished from other known congeners by mitochondrial divergence and morphological characteristics including:(1)medium body size,SVL 70.6–72.3 mm in adult females;(2)skin smooth over the entire body;(3)absence of dorsolateral fold;(4)tympanum small,edge indistinct,less than half of eye diameter;(5)vomerine teeth in two short oblique;(6)circummarginal and transverse grooves absent on disk of the first finger;(7)presence of inner metacarpal tubercle;(8)toes fully webbed,webbing formula Ⅰ0-0^-Ⅱ0-1/2Ⅲ0-1^+Ⅳ1^+-0Ⅴ;(9)absence of outer metatarsal tubercle and tarsal glands;(10)tibiotarsal articulation of the hind limb reaches posterior corners of the eye;(11)dorsum yellow-green,with irregular dark brown blotches without margins;(12)blotches concentrated on the dorsum,less on the flanks.In morphology,Amolops pallasitatus sp.nov.is similar to A.himalayanus and A.formosus,the difference between them is length of hind limbs,web of toe and dorsal colour pattern.The systematic placement of the new species within the genus is unresolved and it is not assigned to any recognized species group,for the lack of convictive evidences.

A Novel Insulinotropic Peptide from the Skin Secretions of Amolops loloensis Frog

Various kinds of biologically active peptides have previously been isolated from the skin secretions of Amolops loloensis frog,such as antimicrobial peptides,bradykinin-like peptides and algesic peptides.A novel insulinotropic peptide named amolopin was identified in A.loloensis frog’s skin secretion.Its primary structure sequence was determined by Edman degradation as:FLPIVGKSLSGLSGKL-NH2.BLAST search indicates that the amino acid sequence of amolopin is quite different from other known insulin secretagogues,including mastoparan,exendins and a-latrotoxin,nor does it like incretins(e.g.glucagons like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic ploypeptide)either.However,amolopin shows certain structural similarity with amphibian antimicrobial temporins and vespid chemotactic peptides isolated from Vespa magnifica.Amolopin can stimulate insulin release in INS-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner.Primary investigation on its action mechanisms reveals that amolopin does not increase the influx of Ca2?.In conclusion,a novel 16-amino acid peptide with insulin-releasing activity is initially discovered from the skin secretion of A.loloensis frog.Further work is necessary to evaluate its potential as novel anti-diabetic candidate.

First Records of Megophrys daweimontis Rao and Yang, 1997 and Amolops vitreus(Bain, Stuart and Orlov, 2006)(Anura: Megophryidae, Ranidae) from Vietnam

Two amphibian species,Megophrys daweimontisandAmolops vitreus,are recorded for the ifrst time from Vietnam, on the basis of a new amphibian collection from Dien Bien and Son La provinces. In addition, acoustic analysis ofA. vitreus is also provided based on the advertisement calls recorded in Muong Nhe Nature Reserve of Dien Bien Province, Vietnam.

贵州分布的华南湍蛙形态、系统发育与分类

结合形态学和线粒体16S rRNA、COI序列分析,对贵州省原记载的华南湍蛙与华南湍蛙种组物种进行形态比对和系统发育分析,并基于线粒体联合序列数据和p-distances模型计算贵州种群与华南湍蛙种组物种之间的遗传距离。结果显示:贵州省所分布的华南湍蛙形态学特征与中华湍蛙相吻合;贵州分布的华南湍蛙与来自模式产地广东石门台分布的中华湍蛙的遗传距离为0.74%~1.30%,与模式产地福建武夷山分布的华南湍蛙的遗传距离为6.82%~6.96%;同时,基于线粒体联合序列构建的系统发育树显示,来自贵州的华南湍蛙与模式产地(广东石门台)中华湍蛙聚为一支。因此,贵州北部(习水、宽阔水)、中部(黄平、麻江)、东部(江口)、东南部(雷公山、丹寨)原记录的华南湍蛙应修订为中华湍蛙,这些分布地代表了贵州以往记录华南湍蛙的分布区域,进而建议将贵州喀斯特地区分布的华南湍蛙修订为中华湍蛙。乌江以北、以西和以南地区中华湍蛙地理种群的分化可能与乌江水系造成的地理阻隔有关,有待深入研究。