Taxonomic determination of Hypselotriton populations distributed in eastern Guangdong, China (Caudata, Salamandridae), with description of a new species and a new subgenus

In this work, the Hypselotriton populations distributed in eastern Guangdong, China are studied in detail to clarify their taxonomic status. Based on morphological comparison and phylogenetic analysis, H. glaucus syn. nov. is synonymised with H. orphicus. . Hypselotriton (Cynotriton) oolong sp. nov. from Mt Fenghuang in Chaozhou which used to be misidentified as H. orphicus , , is revealed to be an independent lineage of subgenus Cynotriton and can be distinguished from all known congeners in morphology. By contrast, H. orphicus did not cluster within Cynotriton , , but gathered with H. jiaoren comb. nov. to form a distinct unnamed clade within the genus. We therefore re-delimitate the intrageneric classification of the genus and a new subgenus Hakkatriton subgen. nov. is erected, corresponding to this unnamed clade. The Chinese Fire-bellied Newt genus Hypselotriton currently contains three subgenera and about ten known species. Identified keys to the subgenera and related congeners of genus Hypselotriton are further provided.