Hypselotriton (Cynotriton) oolong, Wang & Zeng & Wei & Lyu, 2024

Wang, Jian, Zeng, Zhao-Chi, Wei, Tian-Li & Lyu, Zhi-Tong, 2024, Taxonomic determination of Hypselotriton populations distributed in eastern Guangdong, China (Caudata, Salamandridae), with description of a new species and a new subgenus, Zoosystematics and Evolution 100 (3), pp. 1121-1134 : 1121-1134

Hypselotriton (Cynotriton) oolong sp. nov.

Cynops orphicus Risch, 1983 – Fei et al. (2006, 2012); Yuan et al. (2013, 2022); Sparreboom (2014); Fei and Ye (2016); Lyu et al. (2023 a)

Hypselotriton (Cynotriton) orphicus – Raffaëlli (2022)

Type.

Holotype. China • ♂; Guangdong Province, Chaozhou City, Chao’an District, Mt Fenghuang , Peak Wudongding , Tianchi Lake ; 23.96 ° N, 116.64 ° E, ca. 1320 m elev.; 21 Sep. 2019; Tian-Li Wei leg.; CIB 121430 [field number GEP a 192] (Fig. 4 ).

Paratypes. China • 2 ♂♂; same data as for holotype; CIB 121429 [field number GEP a 191], SYS a 009274 [field number GEP a 190] .

Etymology.

The specific name oolong is used as a noun in apposition, derived from oolong tea. The type locality of this species, Mt Fenghuang, is famous for the cultivation and production of the Phoenix Oolong Tea. Yet, the developments of tea cultivation have affected and threatened the habitats of this species. We name this new species after the most famous local economic output in the hope that it would bring attention on the green and sustainable development as well as the harmonious co-existence between humanity and nature. This species name is also in memory of the Japanese manga artist Akira Toriyama (1955–2024). His most famous work, Dragon Ball, was originally inspired by Chinese culture and one of the characters is named as Oolong who makes the first shown wish with the Dragon Balls.

Common name.

Oolong Fire-bellied Newt (in English) / wū lóng róng yuán (乌龙蝾螈 in Chinese).

Diagnosis.

(1) small body size, TOL 69.9–70.7 mm in adult males; (2) parotoid gland inconspicuous; (3) postocular orange spot absent; (4) surface rough and granulated, gular fold present; (5) interrupted vertebral ridge conspicuous and bulged; (6) fingers and toes overlapping when fore-limb and hind-limb adpressed towards each other along body; (7) ground colour dark brown to olive brown with black spots; (8) lateral tail with black spots; (9) ground colour of venter dark brown with irregular bright orange patches, bright orange blotches on chin, base of ventral limbs and anterior half of cloaca; (10) ventral tail with a bright orange stripe.

Description of the holotype.

Body slender and small-sized, TOL 70.7 mm. Head oval in dorsal view; snout truncate, projecting slightly beyond mandible; nostril small, but conspicuous; labial fold well developed on posterior part of upper jaw; tongue elongate, enlarged anteriorly, with free lateral margin; vomerine tooth patch “ ^ ” - shaped; eye small, not extending beyond lateral margins of head; a conspicuous longitudinal ridge found posterior to each eye; parotoid gland inconspicuous, gill remnants absent; gular fold present.

Surface rough, dense tapered granules and tiny spines on dorsum, flanks, limbs and tail; dense granules and inconspicuous wrinkles on venter; interrupted vertebral ridge conspicuous and bulged; cloacal opening oval, slightly protruding.

Limbs slender, fingers and toes overlapping when fore-limb and hind-limb adpressed towards each other along body; four fingers and five toes, slender and elongated, lack webbing; relative length of fingers I < IV < II < III; relative length of toes I < V < II < IV < III. Tail laterally compressed, tapers posteriorly; caudal fin distinct; tail tip bluntly pointed.

Colouration of the holotype.

In life, ground colour dark brown with black spots; vertebral ridge and upper margin of tail yellowish-brown; lateral tail with black spots; tips of digits light yellow; irregular bright orange stripe bordering dark patches on ventral trunk, bright orange blotches on chin, base of ventral limbs and anterior half of cloaca; ventral tail with a bright orange stripe.

In preservation, ground colour faded, greyish, black spots absent; vertebral ridge, upper margin of tail and digits dark grey; black spots on lateral tail indistinct; bright orange stripe on ventral trunk and tail, bright orange blotches on chin, ventral limbs and anterior half of cloaca slightly faded, dark patches more distinct.

Variations.

Measurements of the type series are given in Table 2 . All male specimens are similar in body proportions; however, the number, shape and position of ventral orange blotches vary amongst individuals.

Distribution and natural history.

This species is known only from Tianchi Lake and surrounding streams of Mt Fenghuang at elevations of ca. 1300 m. This locality is situated on the east of the Hanjiang River in eastern Guangdong, while the populations of H. (Ha.) orphicus were all discovered from the west of the Hanjiang River (Fig. 1 ).

The adult individuals inhabit puddles and slow streams that are surrounded by bushes and weeds. Fei et al. (2006) reported that 26 adults were observed from Mt Fenghuang during a survey in July 2002. However, only nine adults were observed in September 2019. The type locality is being threatened by the developments of tourism and tea planting, which might cause negative effects on this species.

Remarks.

The Hypselotriton populations from central Fujian were originally reported as Cynops orientalis ( Hu et al. 1978; Risch 1983). Fei et al. (2006) re-identified the specimens from Mt Daiyun as C. orphicus , based on the ventral colouration that is similar to the paratypes of C. orphicus preserved in MNHN. However, our morphological examinations found that such colouration could not be a distinguished character between the two species, which led to the misidentification. The phylogenetic analysis revealed close relationships between the central Fujian populations and the new species, however, with distinct genetic divergences. Their distribution areas are also distantly isolated (Fig. 1 ). As there is a lack of detailed morphological data of the Fujian populations for accurate identification, we prudently label them as Hypselotriton sp. in this work provisionally.

Figures

Figure 1. Map showing the localities for congeners of genus Hypselotriton from Southeast Chinese Hilly Area. Inset map on top left zooms in eastern Guangdong Province, showing the localities for H. (Cynotriton) oolong sp. nov. and H. (Hakkatriton) orphicus: 1. Mt Fenghuang, Chao’an District, Chaozhou City (type locality of H. oolong sp. nov.); 2. Dayang Township, Jiexi County, Jieyang City (purported type locality of H. orphicus; see Remarks in the species account for locality delimitation); 3. Liangtian Township, Jiexi County (type locality of H. orphicus according to the original coordinate); 4. Mt Dabei, Jiexi County; 5. Mt Liwangzhang, Jiexi County; 6. Mt Hongtuzhang, Fengshun County, Meizhou City; 7. Mt Tongguzhang, Fengshun County; 8. Mt Shijiadong, Fengshun County; 9. Meiguang Village, Mt Lianhua, Wuhua County, Meizhou City (type locality of H. glaucus syn. nov.). The map is derived from Tianditu (www. tianditu. gov. cn).

Figure 4. The holotype CIB 121430 of Hypselotriton (Cynotriton) oolong sp. nov. in life. A. Dorsal view; B. Ventral view; C. Lateral view of head; D. Dorsal view of head; E. Ventral view of hand; F. Ventral view of foot; G. Cloaca slit; H. Lateral view of tail.