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Issue: Vol. 5828 No. 1: 8 Jun. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-06-08
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5828.1.3
Page range: 59-80
Abstract views: 30
PDF downloaded: 1

Molecular and morphological evidence for considering Odorrana gigatympana (Orlov, Ananjeva & Ho, 2006) a junior synonym of Odorrana absita (Stuart & Chan-ard, 2005) (Anura: Ranidae)

The School of Medicine & Pharmacy; Duy Tan University; Da Nang; 550000; Vietnam; Department of Biological Sciences; Graduate School of Science; Tokyo Metropolitan University; Hachioji; Tokyo; 192-0397; Japan
Department of Vertebrate Zoology; Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninskiye Gory; GSP–1; Moscow 119991; Russia
The School of Medicine & Pharmacy; Duy Tan University; Da Nang; 550000; Vietnam
Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center; Nghia Do; Hanoi; Vietnam
Department of Biological Sciences; Graduate School of Science; Tokyo Metropolitan University; Hachioji; Tokyo; 192-0397; Japan
Department of Vertebrate Zoology; Lomonosov Moscow State University; Leninskiye Gory; GSP–1; Moscow 119991; Russia; Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center; Nghia Do; Hanoi; Vietnam; Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center; A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution; Russian Academy of Science; Leninskiy Prospekt 33; Moscow 119071; Russia
Amphibia Ranidae taxonomy molecular phylogenetics morphology Central Annamites

Abstract

The frog family Ranidae includes many cryptic taxa due to their high morphological similarity and broad distributions. The majority of original descriptions and distributional records have been based primarily on morphological identification alone, often lacking genetic support. This has led to instability and controversy in their taxonomy. The taxonomic status of Odorrana gigatympana (Orlov, Ananjeva & Ho, 2006), which was described and distributed in central Vietnam, has remained problematic since its original description. This study reassesses this species using both morphological comparisons and newly generated mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequence data (newly generated in this study) from the paratype of O. absita (Stuart & Chan-ard, 2005), the topotypic material of O. gigatympana, and additional specimens collected extensively across the Kon Tum–Gia Lai Plateau of central Vietnam. Our results demonstrate that the diagnostic traits previously used to distinguish the two taxa, particularly the relatively large tympanum, fall within the range of intraspecific variation of O. absita, and largely reflect sexual dimorphism. Mitochondrial sequence data reveal no genetic differentiation between O. gigatympana and O. absita. We therefore treat O. gigatympana as a junior synonym of O. absita, which occurs on the Kon Tum–Gia Lai Plateau of central Vietnam and in adjacent areas of southern Laos. This study highlights the importance of combining morphological and molecular evidence, as well as broad geographic sampling, to clarify species boundaries and assess the conservation status of Asian ranid frogs.

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How to Cite

Nguyen, T.V., Dubrovskaya, A.S., Keetapithchayakul, T.S., Le, S.X., Eguchi, K. & Poyarkov, N.A. (2026) Molecular and morphological evidence for considering Odorrana gigatympana (Orlov, Ananjeva & Ho, 2006) a junior synonym of Odorrana absita (Stuart & Chan-ard, 2005) (Anura: Ranidae). Zootaxa, 5828 (1), 59–80. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5828.1.3