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A new species of Gracixalus (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from northern Vietnam

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Abstract

We describe a new species of small tree frog from northern Vietnam based on morphological differences and molecular divergence. Gracixalus waza sp. nov. is distinguishable from its congeners and other small rhacophorid species on the basis of a combination of the following characters: (1) size small (snout-vent length of males 27.1–32.9 mm, of females 37.6 mm); (2) head as wide as or wider than long; (3) vomerine teeth absent; (4) snout rounded and long (16–18 % of the snout-vent length); (5) spines on upper eyelid absent; (6) tibiotarsal projection absent; (7) dorsal skin smooth; (8) dermal fringes on forearm and tarsus absent; (9) dorsal surface of head and body greyish-green to moss-green with dark brown pattern forming an inverse Y marking; and (10) throat and chest with dark marbling. Our molecular data showed that the new species is nested in the same group with Gracixalus jinxiuensis sensu lato.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the directorate of the Forest Protection Department of Cao Bang Province for issuing relevant permits. The survey team would like to thank T.V. Ha and C.V. Chu from the Forest Protection Unit of Ha Lang District for supporting our field work. T.V. Nguyen and H.T. Duong are thanked for laboratory assistance. For the loan of specimens, we are grateful to C.X. Le, T.H. Ta, and L.V. Pham (Hanoi), Q.K. Le and T.N. Vu (Hanoi), J.-P. Jiang (Chengdu), J. Che (Kunming), A. Teynié (Clermont-Ferrand), and P. David (Paris). T.Q. Nguyen thanks W. Böhme and D. Rödder (Bonn) for support of his work in Germany. Thanks to D.T. Le, H.T. An (Hanoi), S. Herbst and T. Lehmann (Cologne), and D.A.T. Tran (Bonn) for their assistance, E. Sterling (New York) and K. Koy (Berkeley) for providing the map. We thank J.J.L. Rowley (Sydney) and another anonymous referee for commenting on the manuscript. M.D. Le was supported by the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development of Vietnam (NAFOSTED: Grant No. 106.15-2010.30). Field work in Cao Bang Province was funded by the Nagao Natural Environment Foundation (Japan). Research of T.Q. Nguyen in Germany is funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung/Foundation (VIE 114344).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Truong Quang Nguyen & Cuong The Pham

  2. Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Cologne Biocenter, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47b, 50674, Cologne, Germany

    Truong Quang Nguyen & Michael Bonkowski

  3. Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai Road, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Minh Duc Le

  4. Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Hanoi National University, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Minh Duc Le

  5. Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024, USA

    Minh Duc Le

  6. Vietnam National Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Tao Thien Nguyen

  7. AG Zoologischer Garten Köln, Riehler Strasse 173, 50735, Cologne, Germany

    Thomas Ziegler

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  1. Truong Quang Nguyen
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Correspondence to Truong Quang Nguyen.

Appendix Examined specimens

Appendix Examined specimens

G. jinxiuensis (1): CIB 58795 (holotype, formerly CIB 660386): China: Guangxi Province: Jinxiu.

G.cf. “jinxiuensis” (7): IEBR 2351 − 2353: Vietnam: Lai Chau Province: Phong Tho; ZFMK 88046 − 88047: Vietnam: Lai Chau Province: Tam Duong; ZFMK 93668 − 93669: Vietnam: Ha Giang Province: Quan Ba.

G. gracilipes (1): ZFMK 93670: Vietnam: Ha Giang Province: Quan Ba.

G. quangi (1): IEBR A.2012.5: Vietnam: Thanh Hoa Province: Xuan Lien Nature Reserve.

G. quyeti (2): ZFMK 82999 (holotype): Vietnam: Quang Binh Province: Minh Hoa: Dan Hoa and VNUH 160706 (paratype): Vietnam: Quang Binh Province: Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park.

G. supercornutus (2): IEBR 332 − 333 (paratypes): Vietnam: Kon Tum Province: Kon Plong: Mang Canh.

Feihyla palpebralis (4): IEBR A.2012.9 − A.2012.11, ZFMK 93671: Vietnam: Gia Lai Province: Kon Ka Kinh National Park.

Raorchestes gryllus (8): UNS DT.0108, DT.0146, DT.0215, 0229, DT.0241, DT.0300, DT.0357, DT.0417: Vietnam: Lam Dong Province: Bi Doup - Nui Ba National Park.

Raorchestes parvulus (1): IEBR 2323: Vietnam: Lai Chau Province: Phong Tho.

Rhacophorus spelaeus (2): IEBR A.2012.14 − A.2012.15: Laos: Khammuane Province: Ban Konglor.

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Nguyen, T.Q., Le, M.D., Pham, C.T. et al. A new species of Gracixalus (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from northern Vietnam. Org Divers Evol 13, 203–214 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-012-0116-0

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