A New Species of Boulenophrys (Megophridae) from Mt. Hengshan, Hunan Province, China, with Re-Description on B. hengshanensis

<i>Boulenophrys gutu</i><b>sp. nov.</b> was described from Mt. Hengshan, and <i>B. hengshanensis</i> was re-described based on the holotype and newly collected specimens using phylogenetic and morphological evidence. The new species forms an independent clade, and it is diagnosed by a combination of following characters: (1) male SVL 34.4-44.7 mm (<i>n</i> = 7), female SVL 36.2-52.8 mm (<i>n</i> = 8); (2) dorsal surface of head, body, and limbs relatively smooth; (3) vomerine ridge weak, vomerine teeth absent; (4) narrow lateral fringes on toes; (5) heels moderate long, meeting when thighs are positioned at right angles to body; (6) supratympanic fold behind tympanum thick, distinctly enlarged with thickness near diameter of tympanum; (7) inner metatarsal tubercle small (IMT/SVL 4.4-5.2%); (8) several large dark brown patches along both ventrolateral sides of abdomen; (9) coloration of inner and outer metacarpal tubercle, inner metatarsal tubercle, and tip of digits ivory. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and COI genes revealed that <i>B. hengshanensis</i> is sister to <i>B. wugongensis</i>. Morphological comparisons showed that <i>B. hengshanensis</i> is diagnosed by a combination of following characters: (1) moderate body size, male SVL 34.4-38.0 mm (<i>n</i> = 9), female SVL 48.4 mm (<i>n</i> = 1); (2) weak vomerine ridge, absence of vomerine teeth; (3) tongue not notched behind; (4) a small horn-like tubercle on upper eyelid; (5) rudimentary webbing between toes; (6) narrow lateral fringes on toes; (7) heels relatively short, not meeting when thighs are positioned at right angles to body; (8) supratympanic fold behind tympanum narrow, not distinctly enlarged; (9) a pair of dark brown broad stripes along ventrolateral sides of abdomen; (10) dense creamy white dots present on lower abdomen, merge with deep brown patches without clear boundary.

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Publication Details

Journal
Animals
Published
2025-09-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15182745
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Study of Mite Species
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
12.11
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article

A New Species of Boulenophrys (Megophridae) from Mt. Hengshan, Hunan Province, China, with Re-Description on B. hengshanensis

Kexin Pei, Tai-Fu Huang, Ling Pu, Ya-Wei Luo et al.
4 citations
Animals
Study of Mite Species
12.11
article

A New Species of Boulenophrys (Megophridae) from Mt. Hengshan, Hunan Province, China, with Re-Description on B. hengshanensis

Kexin Pei, Tai-Fu Huang, Ling Pu, Ya-Wei Luo, Dai‐Yong Kuang, Shengchao Shi, Meng Zhang, Wei Yang, Yunning Cao
article en
4 citations

Abstract

<i>Boulenophrys gutu</i><b>sp. nov.</b> was described from Mt. Hengshan, and <i>B. hengshanensis</i> was re-described based on the holotype and newly collected specimens using phylogenetic and morphological evidence. The new species forms an independent clade, and it is diagnosed by a combination of following characters: (1) male SVL 34.4-44.7 mm (<i>n</i> = 7), female SVL 36.2-52.8 mm (<i>n</i> = 8); (2) dorsal surface of head, body, and limbs relatively smooth; (3) vomerine ridge weak, vomerine teeth absent; (4) narrow lateral fringes on toes; (5) heels moderate long, meeting when thighs are positioned at right angles to body; (6) supratympanic fold behind tympanum thick, distinctly enlarged with thickness near diameter of tympanum; (7) inner metatarsal tubercle small (IMT/SVL 4.4-5.2%); (8) several large dark brown patches along both ventrolateral sides of abdomen; (9) coloration of inner and outer metacarpal tubercle, inner metatarsal tubercle, and tip of digits ivory. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and COI genes revealed that <i>B. hengshanensis</i> is sister to <i>B. wugongensis</i>. Morphological comparisons showed that <i>B. hengshanensis</i> is diagnosed by a combination of following characters: (1) moderate body size, male SVL 34.4-38.0 mm (<i>n</i> = 9), female SVL 48.4 mm (<i>n</i> = 1); (2) weak vomerine ridge, absence of vomerine teeth; (3) tongue not notched behind; (4) a small horn-like tubercle on upper eyelid; (5) rudimentary webbing between toes; (6) narrow lateral fringes on toes; (7) heels relatively short, not meeting when thighs are positioned at right angles to body; (8) supratympanic fold behind tympanum narrow, not distinctly enlarged; (9) a pair of dark brown broad stripes along ventrolateral sides of abdomen; (10) dense creamy white dots present on lower abdomen, merge with deep brown patches without clear boundary.

AnimalsVol. 15(18)
Jianghan University (CN), Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve (CN), Chinese Academy of Forestry (CN), State Forestry and Grassland Administration (CN), Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection (CN), University of South China (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Study of Mite Species
12.11
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