Chinese researchers discovered a new species of frog, “Boulenophrys pepe”, in the Lianshan Bijiashan Nature Reserve, in Guangdong Province, in southern China. Findings from the research, led by Guangdong Environmental Protection Engineering Polytechnic and other institutions, were published in a recent issue of the international academic journal Zootaxa.
The new species was discovered in evergreen broadleaf forests at altitudes of 490 to 540 meters, where mountain streams and a leaf litter layer create diverse microhabitat systems.
The frog, notable for its swollen lips, differs significantly from closely related species in the same area, according to Lin Shishi, a member of the research team.
Lin noted that the “Boulenophrys pepe” frog is highly sensitive to changes in the forest ecosystem. The discovery of this new species increases understanding of biodiversity and shows that China’s conservation efforts to protect mountain forest ecosystems have been very effective, Lin said.
Source: https://www.chinahoje.net/descoberta-nova-especie-de-sapo-em-guangdong-no-sul-da-china/
