A research team from Sun Yat-sen University has identified a new frog species named Quasipaa yunkaiensis sp. nov. in the Guangdong Yunkai Mountain National Nature Reserve in Maoming.
It is the eighth animal species described by the team based on specimens from the reserve and the sixth vertebrate species named after the Yunkai Mountains, highlighting the area's significance for biodiversity research in South China.
Confirmed through morphological and molecular analyses after nearly a decade of field surveys, the species is relatively large, with adult males measuring up to 113.8 millimeters, and displays distinct breeding characteristics that differentiate it from related frogs.
The discovery reflects the well-preserved ecosystems of the reserve, where rich vegetation and clean water support diverse wildlife. Located at the junction of Xinyi, Gaozhou, and Yangchun county-level cities, the Yunkai Mountain reserve is one of western Guangdong's key biodiversity hotspots.
Author | Huang Xinying
Photo | Maoming Fabu
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
