Discovery of the Spring Horned Toad: A New Amphibian Species in Fujian Province

The biodiversity research team of Guangdong Environmental Protection Engineering Vocational College has made a groundbreaking discovery, uncovering a new amphibian species, the Spring Horned Toad, in Nanjiao Mountain, Ningde City, Fujian Province.

Relevant scientific research results were recently officially published in the international animal taxonomy journal “ZooKeys”. The discovery of the Spring Horned Toad is a significant addition to the field of biodiversity research and highlights the importance of continued exploration and conservation efforts.

The Spring Horned Toad is a species of the genus Buhorn, characterized by its yellowish-brown color, small horn-like protrusion on the upper eyelid, and an obvious “X”-shaped protrusion in the center of the back. Notably, it has no webbing between the toes.

According to Lin Shishi, leader of the research team, the scientific name of the Spring Horned Toad is derived from the “beginning of spring” in the traditional Chinese 24 solar terms. February marks the breeding season of the Spring Horned Toad, and the sound of frogs heralds the arrival of spring and the beginning of a busy year of farming.

The research team has also compiled a comprehensive distribution map and retrieval table of the genus Buhorn in Fujian Province, featuring six existing species. This effort aims to enhance frog investigation and protection work in the region.

Lin Shishi noted that the new species is primarily active in the hilly and mountainous areas of eastern Fujian. As the investigation and protection of the coastal mountain ecosystem in South China continue to deepen, biodiversity protection work has entered a stage of refinement and specialization.