Survival in fragmented landscapes: Two new Boulenophrys species (Anura: Megophryidae) from the coastal mountains of eastern Guangdong, China

Two new species, Boulenophrys dongli sp. nov. and Boulenophrys raoping sp. nov., are described from the coastal mountains of Raoping County, Chaozhou City, eastern Guangdong, China, based on morphological and molecular evidence. Currently, these two new species are known only from low-altitude mountainous areas (below 500 m a. s. l.), where they inhabit fragmented patches of secondary forest interspersed with bamboo plantations.

Given their extremely limited distribution, ongoing habitat loss, and isolated populations, we recommend listing these two new species as Critically Endangered (CR) in accordance with IUCN Red List criteria B 1 ab (i, ii, iii) c (i, ii) + B 2 ab (i, ii, iii) c (i, ii). Continued research is critical to fill existing knowledge gaps and to guide coordinated conservation efforts aimed at protecting these unique amphibians within the critical montane refugia of eastern Guangdong.