A new Oreolalax (Anura, Megophryidae) from southwest Sichuan, China

The genus Oreolalax of the family Megophryidae currently comprises 22 recorded species, the majority of which are endemic to China. During field work in Liziping National Natural Reserve, Shimian County, Sichuan Province, China, we discovered several Oreolalax toads with morphological characteristics different from other Oreolalax species. Based on the analyses of morphological, bioacoustic and molecular data, this newly identified population forms an independent clade nested with Oreolalax lichuanensis, Oreolalax schmidti and Oreolalax pingii, which we describe as a new species.

The new species, Oreolalax lizipingensis sp. nov., can be distinguished from other congeneric species by the combination of the following characters: (1) relatively small body size in Oreolalax, SVL of males 37.6–43.3 mm and females 44.2–52.7 mm; (2) toes with rudimentary webbing; (3) interorbital region with dark triangular spot; (4) the female’s belly, flanks and lower surface of limbs evenly dotted with white spots, absent or inconspicuous in males; (5) dorsum with dark brown and nearly round warts; (6) male with spiny warts along edge of jaw, ventral thighs and abdomen near vent; and (7) breeding season occurring from July to August.

Oreolalax lizipingensis sp. nov. is currently known only from high-elevation streams at 2400–3100 m a. s. l. within the Menghuo Castle where it occurs in sympatry with Oreolalax liangbeiensis.