A new species of Paramesotriton (Caudata: Salamandridae) from Guizhou

In this study, we describe a new species of salamander, Paramesotriton maolanensis sp. n., from the Maolan National Nature Reserve, Libo County, Guizhou Province, China. The new species is placed in the genus Paramesotriton based on morphological characteristics and molecular data. It differs from all other members of the genus in a number of morphological characteristics, especially in its much larger body size, absence of granular warts from head and body, largely reduced external eyes and peculiar shape of epibranchia in hyoid apparatus. We examined the relationships of nuclear POMC haplotypes between and within the new species and six recognized species. POMC variation and published mitochondrial data suggested that the new species’ closest known relatives are P. longliensis, P. zhijinensis and P. caudopunctatus, and it should be placed into the P. caudopunctatus species group or subgenus Allomesotriton.