Data from: Sorting out Lalos: description of new species and additional taxonomic data on megophryid frogs from Northern Indochina (genus Leptolalax, Megophryidae, Anura)

Frogs in the subgenus Lalos of the genus Leptolalax (Megophryidae) are highly diversified in continental Asia and consist of about 17 nominal species. These frogs as small, inconspicuous, and of high superficial morphological similarity. We here formulate a hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships and assess the amount of genetic variation among genealogical lineages on the basis of 536bp of mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences. Combining molecular data with a study of morphology, morphometric divergence and geographical proximity, we tested hypotheses of species identity. We (1) used character-based and morphometric analyses to assign thee type specimens of species in Lalos available to us to respectively one of the main clades, in order to propose the best potential correct taxonomic and nomenclatural allocation for the individuals included in the molecular study, and (2) tried to also assign the historical museum specimens to these molecular taxonomic units and to reclassify them whenever necessary. We also used the molecular data to match tadpoles with adults and provide tadpole descriptions for species of which these larvae were previously unknown. Specimens that could neither be allocated to a molecular group (on the basis of their DNA “barcode”) nor to a type specimen via morphometry are described here as new species. Based on this integrative set of data and analyses we describe two new species, Leptolalax eos n. sp. and Leptolalax nyx n. sp., we resurrect Leptolalax minimus, and reassess the distribution of the species studied. We propose changes in the Red List status of L. pelodytoides and L. ventripunctatus and suggest a conservation status for the new species described herein.

掌突蟾属（Leptolalax）Lalos亚属的蛙类隶属于角蟾科（Megophryidae），在亚洲大陆具有极高的物种多样性，目前共计约17个定名物种。该类群蛙类体型小巧、不易被察觉，且外观形态相似度极高。本研究基于线粒体16S核糖体DNA（mitochondrial 16S rDNA）536bp的序列片段，构建了该类群的系统发育关系假说，并评估了各谱系支系间的遗传变异程度。本研究结合分子数据、形态学观察、形态测量分化及地理分布关联性分析，对物种界定假说进行了验证。我们（1）采用基于性状的分析与形态测量分析，将可获取的Lalos亚属物种模式标本分别归入相应的主要支系，以期为分子研究涉及的类群确定最合理的分类学与命名学归属；（2）尝试将历史馆藏标本归入上述分子分类单元，并在必要时对其进行重新分类。本研究还利用分子数据将蝌蚪与成体进行匹配，并为此前未知幼体的物种提供了蝌蚪形态描述。对于无法通过DNA条形码（DNA barcode）归入任一分子类群，也无法通过形态测量匹配到模式标本的标本，本研究将其描述为新物种。基于这套整合的数据与分析结果，本研究描述了2个新种：掌突蟾属Leptolalax eos 新种与掌突蟾属Leptolalax nyx 新种，恢复了小掌突蟾Leptolalax minimus的有效分类地位，并重新评估了本次研究涉及物种的分布范围。本研究提议调整掌突蟾Leptolalax pelodytoides与掌突蟾Leptolalax ventripunctatus的IUCN红色名录（Red List）保护等级，并为本次研究中描述的新物种提出了相应的保护等级建议。