A new species of the genus Amolops (Anura, Ranidae) from the Gaoligong Mountains, ChinaAuthorWu, Yun-HeKey Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650223, Kunming, Yunnan, China & Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 05282, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw, MyanmarAuthorYu, Zhong-BinKey Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650223, Kunming, Yunnan, China & Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 05282, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw, MyanmarAuthorKilunda, Felista KasyokaKey Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650223, Kunming, Yunnan, China & Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650204, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaAuthorLu, Chen-QiKey Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650223, Kunming, Yunnan, China & Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650204, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaAuthorLi, Jia-HuaLongyang Branch of Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, Baoshan Management Bureau, Baoshan, Yunnan 678000, ChinaAuthorLi, Yun-PengLongyang Branch of Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, Baoshan Management Bureau, Baoshan, Yunnan 678000, ChinaAuthorShi, Yi-JuanLongyang Branch of Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, Baoshan Management Bureau, Baoshan, Yunnan 678000, ChinaAuthorChe, Jing0000-0003-4246-6514Key Laboratory of Genetic Evolution and Animal Models, and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650223, Kunming, Yunnan, China & Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 05282, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw, MyanmartextZooKeys20252025-02-111227349367journal article10.3897/zookeys.1227.13135786F353A8-A287-4479-9DEA-70EE1E5BB869Amolops gudao
Yu, Wu, Lu & Che
sp. nov.Figs 1
,
2
,
3
,
4
,
5Type material examined.Holotype
•
Adult male
(
KIZ
053662
), from
Baihualing Village
,
Longyang
,
Baoshan
,
Yunnan Province
,
China
(
25.301208 ° N
,
98.788815 ° E
;
elevation
1793 m
a. s. l.
), collected by
Zhong-Bin Yu
,
Dong An
,
Tian-En Chen
on
19, July, 2021
.
Paratypes
•
One adult male
(
KIZ
053663
),
two adult females
(
KIZ
053664
and
KIZ
053665
); collected at the same locality and with the same collection information as the holotype
.
Diagnosis.
The new species is recognized as a member of the
A. viridimaculatus
group based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and can be distinguished from its groups by a combination of the following characters (Suppl. material
3
): (1) medium body size (
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
in males and
63.6–64.8 mm
in females); (2) vomerine teeth developed, on two short oblique between choanae, “ 八 ” - shaped, almost equal in distance from each other as to choanae; (3) supratympanic fold indistinct; (4) true dorsolateral folds absent, discontinuous glandular dorsolateral fold from rear of eye to near vent present; (5) tongue cordiform, 1 / 2 notched posteriorly; (6) maxillary teeth developed; (7) circummarginal grooves present on tips of outer three fingers, absent on first finger; (8) inner metacarpal tubercle rounded, outer metacarpal tubercle indistinct; (9) tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching the anterior corner of eye; (10) a black stripe below edge of the canthus rostralis extending from the nostril across the eyes, along dorsolateral glandular folds to near vent; (11) rictal gland absent; (12) iris distinctly bicolored, green in upper 1 / 4 and reddish brown in lower 3 / 4, black reticulations throughout; (13) vocal sac absent in males; (14) male with orange nuptial pad at the base of first finger.
Description of
holotype
.
(measurements in Table
1
)
KIZ
053662, a medium-sized adult male (
SVL58.6 mm
); body relatively robust; head slightly longer than wide (
HL18.2 mm
;
HW17.7 mm
); outline of the snout rounded in dorsal, ventral and lateral views, projecting beyond lower jaw, its length longer than diameter of eye (
SL
/
ED
131.7 %); loreal region concave and oblique; canthus rostralis distinct; interorbital space flat, shorter (
IOS4.9 mm
) than upper eyelid width (
UEW5.2 mm
) and internarial distance (
INS6.5 mm
); nostril oval, laterally orientated, closer to anterior corner of eye (
NED3.8 mm
) than tip of snout (
SND4.1 mm
); tympanum indistinct, circular in shape, relatively small (
TD
/
HL
13.7 %), tympanic rim slightly elevated, indistinct; eyes relatively large (
ED
/
HL
34.6 %), slightly protuberant in dorsal view (Fig.
3 A
) and notably protruding in profile (Fig.
3 B
), eye diameter longer than snout length (
SL
/
ED
131.7 %); pupil horizontal (Fig.
3 B
); vomerine teeth developed, on two short oblique rows between choanae, “ \ / ” - shaped, almost equal in distance from each other as to choanae; tongue attached anteriorly, cordiform, 1 / 2 notched posteriorly; choanae oval; maxillary teeth developed; indistinct tooth-like projection on anteromedial edge of mandible.
Measurements (mm) of
Amolops gudaosp. nov.
The asterisk (*) indicates the holotype.
-
A. gudaosp. nov.
A. gudaosp. nov.
A. gudaosp. nov.
A. gudaosp. nov.
Catalog No.
KIZ
053662 *
KIZ
053663
KIZ
053664
KIZ
053665
Sex
Male
Male
Female
Female
SVL
58.6
56.7
64.8
63.6
HL
18.2
18.3
19.8
20.0
HW
17.7
17.7
20.0
20.0
SL
8.3
8.4
8.8
8.6
SL
/
HL
45.6 %
45.9 %
13.6 %
13.5 %
ED
6.3
6.1
6.6
6.1
ED
/
HL
34.6 %
33.3 %
33.3 %
30.5 %
SL
/
ED
131.7 %
137.7 %
133.3 %
141.0 %
IOS
4.9
5.4
5.4
5.0
UEW
5.2
4.6
5.2
5.7
INS
6.5
6.4
6.9
6.8
NED
3.8
4.2
4.0
4.2
SND
4.1
4.3
4.3
4.2
TD
2.5
1.8
2.0
1.9
TD
/
HL
13.7 %
9.8 %
10.1 %
9.5 %
LAHL
30.6
30.5
34.6
33.2
LAHL
/
SVL
52.2 %
53.8 %
53.4 %
52.2 %
HND
19.7
19.3
22.5
21.2
FD 2
3.6
3.3
4.2
3.5
FD 3
4.2
3.5
4.6
4.3
FD 4
4.0
3.6
4.8
4.3
LAD
7.1
6.8
6.5
5.6
HLL
98.6
98.8
104.6
104.3
HLL
/
SVL
168.3 %
174.3 %
161.1 %
164.0 %
FEM
28.4
27.4
30.8
30.0
TIB
29.9
29.7
31.2
30.9
FEM
/
TIB
95.0 %
92.3 %
98.7 %
97.1 %
TIB
/
SVL
51.0 %
48.3 %
48.1 %
48.6 %
FTL
32.0
32.7
33.2
32.8
FEM
/
FTL
88.8 %
83.8 %
92.8 %
91.5 %
IMT
4.2
4.3
3.7
4.0
T
6.1
6.4
8.1
7.0
IMT
/ T
68.9 %
67.2 %
45.7 %
57.1 %
TD 1
2.9
2.5
3.3
3.0
TD 2
3.4
2.8
3.8
3.3
TD 3
3.2
2.8
3.6
3.3
TD 4
2.2
2.0
2.8
3.0
TD 5
1.7
1.7
2.1
2.6
Average uncorrected
p
- distances (percentage) among
Amolops viridimaculatus
group calculated from
16 S rRNA
gene sequences (below the diagonal, black font) and standard error estimates (above the diagonal, blue font). The ingroup mean uncorrected
p
- distances are shown on the diagonal.
ID
Species name
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
1
Amolops viridimaculatus
0.2
0.7
0.6
0.8
0.8
1.0
1.1
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.7
0.8
2
Amolops kaulbacki
2.3
0.0
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.0
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.7
0.9
3
Amolops beibengensis
1.8
2.1
0.0
0.8
0.8
1.0
1.2
0.9
0.9
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.9
4
Amolops medogensis
2.9
3.1
2.8
0.0
0.9
1.0
1.1
0.8
0.8
0.6
0.9
0.6
0.9
5
Amolops wangyufani
3.2
3.8
2.8
3.3
0.0
1.0
1.2
1.0
0.9
0.9
1.0
0.9
1.0
6
Amolops formosus
4.3
4.1
4.6
4.1
4.4
0.0
1.0
1.0
0.9
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
7
Amolops himalayanus
5.1
4.9
5.4
4.9
6.2
4.4
0.0
0.9
0.8
1.1
1.1
1.1
0.9
8
Amolops pallasitatus
3.6
3.8
3.3
3.1
4.1
3.8
3.6
–
0.8
0.9
0.9
1.0
0.9
9
Amolops yangi
2.7
2.8
3.3
2.8
3.6
3.3
3.1
2.6
0.0
0.7
0.9
0.7
0.6
10
Amolops wangyali
2.5
2.2
2.7
1.9
3.5
4.2
5.0
4.0
2.4
0.3
0.7
0.3
0.9
11
Amolops chanakya
3.6
2.8
3.3
3.1
4.6
3.8
5.1
3.6
3.1
1.9
–
0.7
1.1
12
Amolops tawang
2.2
2.3
2.8
2.1
3.6
3.8
5.1
4.1
2.6
0.4
2.1
–
0.9
13
Amolops gudaosp. nov.
2.7
3.3
3.3
3.3
3.6
4.4
3.6
3.1
1.5
3.5
4.6
3.6
0.0
Views of the holotype
KIZ
053662 in life
A
lateral view
B
lateral view of head
C
ventral view
D
ventral view of the hand
E
ventral view of foot
F
habitat. Photographs by Zhong-Bin Yu.
Forelimbs moderately long and robust, forearms significantly enlarged relative to upper arms; forelimb and hand length (
LAHL30.6 mm
) longer than 1 / 2 body size (
LAHL
/
SVL
52.2 %); relative length of fingers: FI <FII <FIV <FIII; tips of all four fingers expended into discs, disc on finger III approximately equal to 1 / 2 snout length (FD 3
4.2 mm
; FD 3 /
SL
50.6 %); circummarginal grooves present on tips of outer three fingers, absent on first finger; subarticular tubercles prominent and oval, formula 1, 1, 2, 2; supernumerary tubercles present at the base of each finger; webbing between fingers absent; narrow lateral fringes of fingers III and IV; inner metacarpal tubercle rounded, outer metacarpal tubercle indistinct (Fig.
3 D
).
Hindlimbs long and robust, almost three times longer than the forearms and nearly two times longer than body length (
LAHL
/
HLL
31.0 %;
SVL
/
HLL
59.4 %); femoral length shorter than the tibia length (
FEM
/
TIB
95.0 %) and the foot length (
FEM
/
FTL
88.8 %); tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching the anterior corner of eye when hindlimb is stretched alongside the body; the heels slightly overlapping when the tibias are perpendicular to the body axis; relative toe lengths: TI <TII <TIII <TV <TIV; toes with narrow lateral fringes, toe IV and postaxial side of toe V relatively wider; tips of all toes expanded into discs (TD 1
2.9 mm
; TD 2
3.4 mm
; TD 3
3.2 mm
; TD 4
2.2 mm
; TD 5
1.7 mm
), toe discs relatively smaller than those of fingers; toe discs with circummarginal grooves; toes fully webbed except for fourth toe, in which web reaches beyond distal subarticular tubercle; subarticular tubercles oval and distinct, formula 1, 1, 2, 3, 2; supernumerary tubercles absent; inner metatarsal tubercle elongate (
IMT
/ TI 68.9 %), outer metatarsal tubercle absent (Fig.
3 E
).
Skin on dorsal surface of head, body and limbs smooth; flank of body, ventral surface of head and limbs, throat, chest and abdomen relatively smooth; temporal region without any tubercles; supratympanic fold indistinct; true dorsolateral folds absent, but discontinuous series of glands along dorsolateral junction of body (dorsolateral glandular folds) present, extending from rear of eye to near vent; posterior angle of the jaw with dense tubercles; rictal gland absent (Fig.
3
).
Color of
holotype
in life.
The ground coloration of dorsum vivid green, interspersed with irregular black spots; ventral surface of the head, throat, chest and belly mostly yellow-green, posterior abdomen with dense yellow dots; ventral surface of thighs, tibia, and tarsus brown, scattered with green spots and blotches; lateral surfaces of the body vivid green; a black stripe below edge of the canthus rostralis extending from the nostril across the eyes, along dorsolateral glandular folds to near vent; the dorsal surfaces of limbs with irregular black transverse bands, mottled with yellow-green dots, and the bands much more distinct on the hindlimbs, bands relatively incomplete on the forelimbs; iris distinctly bicolored, green in upper 1 / 4 and reddish brown in lower 3 / 4, black reticulations throughout; foot webbing brown; ventral surface of outer three fingers discs and outer three toes discs, metatarsal tubercle, subarticular tubercles of toes gray; ventral surface of first finger disc, inner two toes discs, subarticular tubercles and supernumerary tubercles of fingers orange yellow (Fig.
3
).
Color of
holotype
in preservative.
After one year of storage in ethanol, dorsum metallic blue, with small scattered blackish spots; transverse cross-bars on dorsal surfaces of hands, shanks, tarsus, and feet still clear and turning black; a black stripe below edge of the canthus rostralis extending from the nostril across the eyes, along dorsolateral glandular folds to near vent still clear; chest, throat and ventral surface of head fading to dark gray; ventral surface of limbs fading to cream-yellow, scattered with brown pigmentations; abdomen brown, gray around abdomen; posterior angle of the jaw and posterior surface of thigh around vent with dense tubercles more distinct; digit tips, nuptial pads, supernumerary tubercles, subarticular tubercles, and metatarsal tubercle fading to cream-yellow or grayish-white; foot webbing cream-yellow (Fig.
4
).
Views of the holotype
KIZ
053662 in preservative
A
dorsal view
B
ventral view
C
lateral view of the head
D
ventral view of thigh
E
ventral view of hand
F
ventral view of foot. Photographs by Zhong-Bin Yu.
Secondary sexual characters.
Adult female specimens have larger body sizes than adult male specimens (
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
vs
56.7–58.6 mm
, Table
1
). Adult males possess orange nuptial pads covering the dorsal surface of base of the first finger; absence of vocal sacs in males. Forearms of male are slightly enlarged relative to the upper arms (Fig.
3
).
Morphological variation.
The overall morphology of
paratypes
agrees with the
holotype
description with the following exceptions.
KIZ
053663 (male): The ground coloration of dorsum vivid green, with larger and more irregular black markings mottled on the dorsal area, scattered with a few yellow spots; complete transverse cross-bars on dorsal surfaces of limbs, cross-bands with distinct yellow edge.
KIZ
053664 (female): compared to
holotype
and
paratypes
, larger irregular black markings mottled on dorsal area, scattered with a few yellow spots; complete transverse cross-bars on dorsal surfaces of hindlimbs, cross-bands without distinct yellow edge; flanks present two black specks.
KIZ
053665 (female): compared to other
holotype
and
paratypes
, smaller irregular black markings mottled on dorsal area, connected to form reticulations throughout; upper lips with three dark vertical bars; flanks mottled with seven black specks; dorsal surfaces of hindlimbs without complete transverse cross-bars, but scattered with some black specks; complete transverse cross-bars on dorsal surfaces of hindlimbs (Fig.
5
).
Morphological variation. Photographs of different individuals of
Amolops gudaosp. nov.
from the type locality, Baihualing, Longyang, Yunnan, showing
AKIZ
053663 (male)
BKIZ
053664 (female)
CKIZ
053665 (female). Photographs by Zhong-Bin Yu.
Distribution.
Currently, this species is only known from Baihualing village, Longyang,
Yunnan
,
China
.
Ecology and habitat.
This nocturnal species inhabits wide and swift mountain streams. There were many large stones covered with moss in the stream. The frog was observed squatting on big rocks in the streams or on banks during our survey from 21: 00 to 24: 00 in July. When disturbed, it immediately jumps into the water. The vegetation on both sides of the stream was dense, surrounded by broad-leaved forests and bamboo forests. The adults were only found on July 19. The adult males displayed orange nuptial pads and the females were gravid during specimen collection. The tadpoles of this species were found on July 8 at the collection site. Therefore, we speculate that the breeding season of this species occurs around July-August. This species is sympatric with
A. viridimaculatus
(Jiang, 1983)
and its congeners. The new species was also found in sympatry with
Leptobrachella alpina
(Fei, Ye & Li, 1990)
,
Oreolalax jingdongensis
(Ma, Yang & Li, 1983)
,
Bufo tuberospinius
(Yang, Liu & Rao, 1996)
,
Boulenophrys lushuiensis
(Shi, Li, Zhu,
Jiang, Jiang & Wang, 2021
)
,
Leptobrachium huashen
Fei & Ye, 2005
,
Nanorana yunnanensis
(Anderson, 1879)
, and
Zhangixalus burmanus
(Andersson, 1939)
.
Comparisons.
The new species was compared with the other species of the
A. viridimaculatus
species group (Suppl. material
3
;
Andersson 1938
;
Biju et al. 2010
;
Nidup et al. 2016
;
Qi et al. 2019
;
Che et al. 2020
;
Mahony et al. 2022
;
Saikia et al. 2022
;
Hou et al. 2023
;
Wu et al. 2024 a
).
Amolops gudaosp. nov.
is significantly different from
A. wangyali
by smaller body size, male
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
and female
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
(vs
SVL71.4–76.7 mm
in males and
80.5–89.6 mm
in females), rictal gland absent (vs a distinct patch of rictal glands at rear of jaw on either side), iris distinctly bicolored, green in upper 1 / 4 and reddish brown in lower 3 / 4, black reticulations throughout (vs pupil with near continuous pale metallic green border, remaining iris mottled metallic green and chocolate brown, more green than brown on dorsal 1 / 3 and ventral most portions of iris), male with orange nuptial pad at the base of first finger (vs nuptial pads yellowish-gray dorsally, dark gray ventrally); from
A. chanakya
by smaller adult male size, male
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
(vs
76.4 mm
), supratympanic fold indistinct (vs supratympanic fold strong), the ground coloration of dorsum vivid green, interspersed with irregular black spots (vs dorsal color dull brick-red, spotted with irregular cocoa-brown spots, these cocoa-brown spots enclosing a number of smaller dull brick-red spots), absence of vocal sacs in males (vs vocal sac externally visible); from
A. tawang
by smaller adult male size, male
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
(vs
82.5 mm
), tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching the anterior corner of eye (vs tibio-tarsal articulation reaches to snout), supratympanic fold indistinct (vs supratympanic fold strong), the ground coloration of dorsum vivid green, interspersed with irregular black spots (vs dorsal color olive-green, spotted with large, irregular shaped dark-brown spots, brown spots enclosing a number of small olive-green dots), absence of vocal sacs in males (vs vocal sac faintly visible); from
A. kaulbacki
by smaller body size, male
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
and female
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
(vs
SVL72.6–82.6 mm
in males and
82.7–87.2 mm
in females), tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching the anterior corner of eye (vs tibio-tarsal articulation reaches to the tip of snout), iris distinctly bicolored, green in upper 1 / 4 and reddish brown in lower 3 / 4 (vs iris vivid green with irregular dark patterns), discontinuous glandular dorsolateral fold (vs absent); from
A. viridimaculatus
by smaller body size, male
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
and female
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
(vs
72.7–82.3 in
males and 83.0–
94.3 in
females), discontinuous glandular dorsolateral fold (vs absent), the ground coloration of dorsum vivid green, interspersed with irregular black spots (vs dorsum and flank with nearly round green or yellowish green spots, scattered with small green spots); from
A. beibengensis
by smaller body size, male
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
and female
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
(vs
SVL75.8 mm
male and
90.2–93.2 mm
in females), discontinuous glandular dorsolateral fold (vs absent), male with orange nuptial pad at the base of first finger (vs white nuptial pads), supratympanic fold indistinct (vs distinct, wide and thick); from
A. formosus
by smaller adult female size,
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
(vs
SVL79.4–83.7 mm
), glandular dorsolateral fold (vs absent), male with orange nuptial pad at the base of first finger (vs developed white nuptial pads); from
A. himalayanus
by smaller body size, male
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
and female
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
(vs
SVL72.8–76.7 mm
males and 80.5–89.0 mm in females), vocal sac absent in males (vs externally visible vocal sacs present), the ground coloration of dorsum vivid green, interspersed with irregular black spots (vs dark brown, interspersed with irregular yellow spots); from
A. pallasitatus
by smaller adult female size, female
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
(vs
70.6–72.3 mm
in females), glandular dorsolateral fold (vs absent), the ground coloration of dorsum vivid green, interspersed with irregular black spots (vs dorsum yellow-green, with irregular dark brown blotches without margins), rictal gland absent (vs rictal gland prominent and ellipsoidal); from
A. yangi
by larger body size, male
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
and female
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
(vs
SVL46.3–51.8 mm
males and
51.5 mm
in female), three metacarpal tubercles, inner metacarpal tubercle long, outer metacarpal tubercle relatively small, oval, median one rounded (vs inner metacarpal tubercle rounded, outer metacarpal tubercle indistinct), a black stripe below edge of the canthus rostralis extending from the nostril across the eyes, along dorsolateral glandular folds to near vent (vs a black stripe below edge of the canthus rostralis extending from the snout tip across the eyes, to the anterior edge of supratympanic fold), toes with narrow lateral fringes, toe IV and postaxial side of toe V relatively wider (vs narrow lateral fringes of preaxial side of toe I and postaxial side of toe V); from
A. longimanus
by larger body size, male
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
and female
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
(vs
SVL30 mm
), eye diameter (
ED
/
SL
70.9 % – 75.9 %) shorter than snout length (vs snout approximately as long as the eye diameter,
ED
/
SL
97.7 %), nostrils closer to anterior corner of eye than to tip of snout (vs nostrils a little nearer to tip of snout than the eye), hand length ~ 2 / 3 of forelimb (vs the hand nearly 1 / 2 length of the whole forelimb); from
A. medogensis
by smaller body size, male
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
and female
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
(vs
SVL
95.0 mm males and
72.4–96.9 mm
in females), supratympanic fold indistinct (vs distinct, wide and thick), tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching the anterior corner of eye (vs beyond tip of snout), circummarginal grooves present on discs of outer three fingers, absent on first finger (vs discs of all fingers with circummarginal grooves); from
A. wangyufani
by smaller body size, male
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
and female
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
(vs
SVL
68.3–69.0 mm males and
83.4 mm
in female), discontinuous glandular dorsolateral fold (vs absent), tibiotarsal articulation of adpressed limb reaching the anterior corner of eye (vs beyond tip of snout), the ground coloration of dorsum vivid green, interspersed with irregular black spots (vs brown dorsal color, head and body with green markings), male with orange nuptial pad at the base of first finger (vs pale gray nuptial pads); from
A. nidorbellus
by smaller body size, male
SVL56.7–58.6 mm
and female
SVL63.6–64.8 mm
(vs
SVL76.4–82.3 mm
males and 85.4–98.0 mm in females), the ground coloration of dorsum vivid green, interspersed with irregular black spots (vs dorsally brown with small irregularly arranged cobalt green spots), tympanum indistinct (vs distinct).
Etymology
Baihualing, where the new species occurs, lies on the historical passage of the famous Southern Silk Road. The specific epithet
gudao
is derived from the Chinese alternative name for the Southern Silk Road. We propose the English common name Gudao Cascade Frog and the Chinese common name Gǔ Dào Tuān Wā (古道湍蛙).