Generic classification of Asian horned toads (Anura: Megophryidae: Megophryinae) and monograph of Chinese species.

The subfamily Megophryinae, as a representative batrachian group of the Oriental Realm and one of the most diverse groups of amphibians, has attracted considerable attention due to continued conjecture regarding its generic classification and failure to reach a satisfactory consensus. China boasts the richest diversity of Asian horned toads, containing some two thirds of the total species cataloged. However, most species have a complicated taxonomic history, resulting in multiple misidentifications. As such, an overall clarification of historical records and regional checklists is required. In the current investigation, we established the phylogeny of the Asian horned toads and performed detailed examinations with redefinitions of several important morphological traits. Based on the phylogenetic relationships and morphological differences, we propose a new ten-genus classification for the Asian horned toad subfamily Megophryinae: i.e., 角蟾亚科作为东洋界生物区系的代表性两栖动物类群，因其极其丰富的物种多样性和至今未有定论的属级分类争议，一直备受关注。中国是角蟾物种多样性最为丰富的国家，所记录的物种超过角蟾亚科总数的三分之二，其中很多物种由于分类历史的局限性，存在诸多错误鉴定的情况，亟待对历史记录和地区名录开展全面系统的厘定工作。为解决角蟾亚科的属级分类问题，该研究重建了角蟾亚科的系统发育树，统一了多个用于角蟾分类且容易导致认定混乱的重要形态特征的定义和标准。基于系统发育关系和形态差异，我们提出了一个新的分类观点，将角蟾亚科划分为10个属：短腿蟾属、无耳蟾属、半岛角蟾属、砂角蟾属、靖角蟾属、异角蟾属、角蟾属、地角蟾属、拟角蟾属和布角蟾属。并修订了各属的鉴别特征、地理分布格局及其物种组成。此外，基于对中国角蟾物种分类历史的考证及新增标本的检视，完成了中国角蟾物种的分类专论：目前中国共记录角蟾6属87种，其中短腿蟾属6种，无耳蟾属4种，靖角蟾属5种，异角蟾属10种，拟角蟾属2种，布角蟾属60种。在上述研究基础上，讨论了单纯的分子生物学物种界定方法导致的角蟾亚科物种分类膨胀的现状，强调了基于多种群的形态学研究对分类工作的重要性。.