08/04/2026
𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠 𝑦𝑎𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠, a new species of Chinese giant salamander is described, based on mitochondrial genomes and morphological characteristics from Yuexi County, Anqing City, Anhui Province, China.
Chinese giant salamanders (genus 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠), encompassing the largest extant amphibian species in the world, are widespread in China. Several molecular studies have shown that there are several undescribed species of 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠. The number of species in 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠 now reaches six, but cryptic species richness in the Chinese giant salamanders deserves further attention.
𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲
A new species of the Giant Salamander genus 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠 (Amphibia, Urodela, Cryptobranchidae) from Yuexi, Anhui, China
Open-access - https://zse.pensoft.net/article/179377/
𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Jiang Z, Huang R, Yang J, Zhao K, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Zhang Y, Chu J, Chen J, Huang S (2026) A new species of the Giant Salamander genus 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠 (Amphibia, Urodela, Cryptobranchidae) from Yuexi, Anhui, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 102(2): 649-658. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.179377
𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
Chinese giant salamanders (genus 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠), encompassing the largest extant amphibian species in the world, are widespread in China. Several molecular studies have shown that there are several undescribed species of 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠. A new species, 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠 𝑦𝑎𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 sp. nov., is described, based on mitochondrial genomes and morphological characteristics from Yuexi County, Anqing City, Anhui Province, China.
Morphologically, the new species is characterised by the combination of seven external characters: (1) head and trunk flat, head slightly longer than wide; (2) tubercles above the orbit few and irregularly distributed; (3) eye diameter longer than naris diameter; (4) lateral neck fold discontinuous with body fold at fore-limb insertion; (5) interdigital webbing slightly present; (6) finger length formula FIII > FII > FI > FIV; and (7) dorsum tan in life, darker blotches present on trunk.
Molecularly, the new species and an undescribed clade (identified in previous studies) of 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠 form an independent clade with strong support (1.00/100) in the phylogenetic trees, based on mitochondrial genomes. The number of species in 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠 now reaches six, but cryptic species richness in the Chinese giant salamanders deserves further attention.
𝗘𝘁𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
The specific name 𝑦𝑎𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 refers to the type locality of the new species in Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve, Anhui, China. For the English common name, we suggest “Yaoluoping Giant Salamander” and for the Chinese name, 鹞落坪大鲵 (yào luò píng dà ní).
𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
Top - Holotype of 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠 𝑦𝑎𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 sp. nov. (HSA25201). A . Dorsalateral view in life; B . Environment of the sampling location (Photographed by Zhihao Jiang and Kai Zhao).
Bottom - Holotype of 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑠 𝑦𝑎𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠 sp. nov. (HSA25201) in life. A . Dorsal view; B . Lateral view (right side); C . Ventral view (Photographed by Zhihao Jiang and Song Huang).
Copyright © 2026 the Author(s). Published in the Zoosystematics and Evolution journal. This paper is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0) licence.
