TAXONOMIC STUDIES ON Bufo viridis FROM WEST CHINA (Amphibia:Anura)

In this paper,morphologic characteristics among 27 populations of original green toads Bufo viridis from west China were compared.In meantime,their characters were contrasted with the three toads of the Turkmen and Kashmir from adjacents areas, Bufo danatensis,Bufo latastii and Bufo stomaticus (Kashmir).The results show that they may be divided into 4 types which differ from each other in morphologic characters (Table 1).We agree to the suggestion made by Borkin et al .(1988) that the tetraloid toads from Xinjiang area are temporarily placed in Bufo danatensis .Now this species includes 3 subspecies in Xinjiang area: Bufo d danatensis Pisanetz,1978; Bufo d pewzowi Bedriaga,1898; Bufo d taxkorensis subsp.nov..The toad from Zamda,west Xizang (Tibet) is considered to be a distinct species, Bufo zamdaensis sp.nov.. Bufo zamdaensis Fei,Ye and Huang,sp.nov.(Fig.1) Holotype:No.CIB?760085,adult male,type locality:Zamda (Tzada) County (79°80′E,31°50′N),Ngari (Ari) Prefecture,Xizang (Tibet),altitude 2?900?m;July 2,1976 collected by Chang Rong zu. Paratypes:4 (Nos.CIB?760086-0089),3 subadults (Nos.CIB?760090-760092),collected with the holotype. Diagnosis:This new species is similar to Bufo stomaticus Lutken,1863,but differs from the latter in:1)parotoid small,long slight larger than broad;2)tympanum small,1/3 diameter of eye;3)palmars large,inner one slight smaller than outer one;4)internal vocal sac of male without dark colour;5)frontoparitals twice as long as broad,with a fontanelle.The latter can be distinguished in:1)parotoid large,elliptical,about three times as long as broad;2)tympanum large,2/3 diameter of eye;3)palmars small,and inner one much less outer one,about 1/2 outer;4)frontoparitals lacking a fontanelle;5)male with a dark internal vocal sac. Bufo danatensis taxkorensis Fei,Ye and Huang,sub sp.nov.(Fig.2) Holotype:No.CIB?74SI0177,adult male,type locality:Taxkorgan(37°40′N,75°12′E),Xinjiang,altitude 3?120m?;June 11,1974 collected by Huang Yong zhao. Paratypes:15 (Nos.CIB?74SI0178-0180,0176;CMNH?74SI0126-0135,0139),3 ♀♀(Nos.CMNH?74SI0136,0137,0144) and tadpoles collected with the holotype. Diagnosis:This new subspecies is similar to Bufo danatensis danatensis Pisanetz,(1978) and Bufo d pewzowi Bedriaga,1898,but differs from the latter two subspecies in:1)body rather thin and long,body length mean 60 0±3 6, n =16 in male,2)parotoid small,wedge,depressed,twice as long as broad;3)tympanum small,1/3 diameter of eye;4)tongue small as broad as 1/4 distance between two mouth angles;5)inner palmar much less than outer,about 1/2 outer one;6)inner tarsal fold distinct,thin slice,passing along inner metatarsal tubercle and confluenting with fringe of fifth toe;7)a large,long spots below eye;7)limbs with wide and distinct cross bars. All type spcimens are kept in Chengdu Institute of Biology and Chongqing Museum of Natural History.