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Zhi-Yong Yuan, Bao-Lin Zhang, & Jing Che, 2016. A new species of the genus Pachytriton (Caudata: Salamandridae) from Hunan and Guangxi, southeastern China. Zootaxa 4085 (2): 219–232.
Abstract
Despite recent descriptions of multiple new species of the genus Pachytriton (Salamandridae), species richness in this China-endemic newts genus likely remains underestimated. In this study, we describe a new species of Pachytriton from northeastern Guangxi and southern Hunan, southeastern China. Both molecular analyses and morphological characters reveal that the new species can be distinguished from its congeners. The mitochondrial gene tree identified the new lineage highly divergent (uncorrected p-distance > 5.8 % by mitochondrial gene) from currently recognized species and placed it as the sister species of P. xanthospilos and P. changi. Furthermore, a nuclear gene haplotype network revealed a unique haplotype in the new populations. Statistical species delimitation using Bayes factor strongly supported the evolutionary independence of the new species from the closely-related P. xanthospilos. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by a uniformly dark brown dorsum without bright orange dots or black spots; irregular orange blotches on the venter; tips of fingers and toes orange on the dorsal side; moderately developed webs on the side of digits; absence of costal grooves between the axilla and groin; and widely open vomerine tooth series.
A new species of the genus Pachytriton (Caudata: Salamandridae) from Hunan and Guangxi, southeastern China | YUAN | Zootaxa
The paper includes a couple of color images of the new species, a distributional map of the genus [albeit lacking most known localities for the genus – localities are those used for analysis in this paper only], and a set of morphological traits which can be used to distinguish [usually] most species [mainly this one with respect to all others]. Habitat images and descriptions are included, along with some behavioral information and sympatric species. Separate status from the closely related P.changi and P.xanthospilos is well-established. However, no new data are yet available for P.changi. The latter species was described from two specimens of unknown origin, a couple of weeks earlier than the better-studied P.xanthospilos from known localities. These two are slightly different in mtDNA and morphology, but otherwise nearly identical. Some consider these to be one species [P.changi], but many authors tentatively treat them as separate, based on their identified differences and the fact that no natural location for P.changi is yet known (rendering it something of a doubtful, ie unidentifiable, species in some opinions). The authors consider it likely that additional species remain to be discovered in the many relictual mountain forests of southern China.
Many thanks to the authors for providing the paper.
P.archospotus dorsal black spots present
P.brevipes dorsal black spots present
P.granulosus dorsal black spots present or absent, costal grooves present
P.changi dorsal black spots absent, orange dorsolateral spots present
P.xanthospilos dorsal black spots absent, orange dorsolateral spots present
P.wuguanfui dorsal black spots absent, orange dorsolateral spots absent, orange ventral spots present, costal grooves absent, tips of digits dorsally orange
P.moi dorsal black spots absent, orange ventral spots absent
P.feii dorsal black spots absent, costal grooves present, tips of digits dorsally black
P.inexpectatus dorsal black spots absent, costal grooves present
Abstract
Despite recent descriptions of multiple new species of the genus Pachytriton (Salamandridae), species richness in this China-endemic newts genus likely remains underestimated. In this study, we describe a new species of Pachytriton from northeastern Guangxi and southern Hunan, southeastern China. Both molecular analyses and morphological characters reveal that the new species can be distinguished from its congeners. The mitochondrial gene tree identified the new lineage highly divergent (uncorrected p-distance > 5.8 % by mitochondrial gene) from currently recognized species and placed it as the sister species of P. xanthospilos and P. changi. Furthermore, a nuclear gene haplotype network revealed a unique haplotype in the new populations. Statistical species delimitation using Bayes factor strongly supported the evolutionary independence of the new species from the closely-related P. xanthospilos. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by a uniformly dark brown dorsum without bright orange dots or black spots; irregular orange blotches on the venter; tips of fingers and toes orange on the dorsal side; moderately developed webs on the side of digits; absence of costal grooves between the axilla and groin; and widely open vomerine tooth series.
A new species of the genus Pachytriton (Caudata: Salamandridae) from Hunan and Guangxi, southeastern China | YUAN | Zootaxa
The paper includes a couple of color images of the new species, a distributional map of the genus [albeit lacking most known localities for the genus – localities are those used for analysis in this paper only], and a set of morphological traits which can be used to distinguish [usually] most species [mainly this one with respect to all others]. Habitat images and descriptions are included, along with some behavioral information and sympatric species. Separate status from the closely related P.changi and P.xanthospilos is well-established. However, no new data are yet available for P.changi. The latter species was described from two specimens of unknown origin, a couple of weeks earlier than the better-studied P.xanthospilos from known localities. These two are slightly different in mtDNA and morphology, but otherwise nearly identical. Some consider these to be one species [P.changi], but many authors tentatively treat them as separate, based on their identified differences and the fact that no natural location for P.changi is yet known (rendering it something of a doubtful, ie unidentifiable, species in some opinions). The authors consider it likely that additional species remain to be discovered in the many relictual mountain forests of southern China.
Many thanks to the authors for providing the paper.
P.archospotus dorsal black spots present
P.brevipes dorsal black spots present
P.granulosus dorsal black spots present or absent, costal grooves present
P.changi dorsal black spots absent, orange dorsolateral spots present
P.xanthospilos dorsal black spots absent, orange dorsolateral spots present
P.wuguanfui dorsal black spots absent, orange dorsolateral spots absent, orange ventral spots present, costal grooves absent, tips of digits dorsally orange
P.moi dorsal black spots absent, orange ventral spots absent
P.feii dorsal black spots absent, costal grooves present, tips of digits dorsally black
P.inexpectatus dorsal black spots absent, costal grooves present