A new species of Micryletta (Amphibia: Microhylidae) from southern Thailand

Zool Res. 2020 Sep 18;41(5):581-588. doi: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.139.

Abstract

We report on a new species, Micryletta dissimulans sp. nov., from the lowland forests of southern Thailand, which is described based on molecular and morphological evidence. The new species is characterized by a combination of the following characters: small body size (20.3-22.4 mm in males, 24.4-26.7 mm in females); slender body habitus; head longer than wide; snout rounded in dorsal and lateral view; eye length equal to snout length; tibiotarsal articulation reaching to tympanum; dorsal surface slightly granulated to shagreened; supratympanic fold indistinct, ventrally edged in black with large black spot behind eye; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; dorsum reddish-brown with merging irregular-shaped brown blotches edged in beige, no black spots on dorsum; body flanks brown with large black spots edged in whitish mottling, two large black blotches in axillary and inguinal areas on each side; lateral sides of head black, with white patches on lips absent, whitish mottling on tympanum and axillary region; ventral surface pinkish to bluish-gray, translucent, laterally with dark-brown marbled pattern, medially immaculate; throat in males dark-gray with sparse white mottling laterally; iris copper-orange. The new species is divergent from all other congeners in 16S rRNA gene sequences (5.0%-7.4%). To date, Micryletta dissimulans sp. nov. is only known from a single locality in Saba Yoi District, Songkhla Province, Thailand, at an elevation of 120 m a.s.l., but is also expected to occur in neighboring parts of Malaysia. We suggest Micryletta dissimulans sp. nov. be considered as a Data Deficient (DD) species following the IUCN's Red List categories (IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee, 2019).

Keywords: Biodiversity; Indochina; Kangar-Pattani line; Micryletta dissimulans sp. nov; Micryletta lineata; Micryletta steinegeri; Micryletta sumatrana; Taxonomy; Thai-Malay Peninsula; mtDNA.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Animal Distribution
  • Animals
  • Anura / anatomy & histology*
  • Anura / classification*
  • Anura / genetics
  • Anura / physiology
  • Female
  • Forests
  • Male
  • Phylogeny
  • Species Specificity
  • Thailand

Associated data

  • GENBANK/MT573413-MT573416

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Unit of Excellence 2020 on Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management, University of Phayao (UoE63005); Thailand Research Fund (TRF: DBG6180001); and Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, University of Phayao (RD61017) to C.S.; partially supported by Chiang Mai University to S.C.; International Partnership Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (152453KYSB20170033), and Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, CAS (Y4ZK111B01: 2017CASSEABRIQG002) to J.C.; and Russian Science Foundation (19-14-00050; sampling, molecular, and phylogenetic analyses) to N.A.P.