A new horn toad
Megophrys sangzhiensis
sp. nov. (Holotype: CIB 200078, adult male, SVL 54.7 mm) has been recognized based on collections from Sangzhi County, Hunan Province in China. It was previously classified as
M. caudoprocta Shen, in 1994 as both had a tail projecting above the vent. This new species can be distinguished from the latter by the following characteristics: Body is smaller in size, SVL 54.7 mm; a smaller tubercle is present on the outer edge of the upper eyelids; chest and belly is yellowish with dark brown or orange red spots; vomerine ridge is slender and not dilated at its posterior region, without vomerine teeth; larger and sparse black nuptial spinules are found on the first two fingers of males with vocal sac. The new species differs from
M. spinata Liu Hu, in 1973 by having a tail projecting above the vent at the ventral view, smaller and denser black nuptial spinules are found on the first two fingers in males. The size and density of the nuptial spinules on the first two fingers of the new species presents at a middle degree between those of
M. caudoprocta and
M. spinata.
