Abstract
This study provides a taxonomic revision of the Quasipaaverrucospinosa complex in Vietnam. Based on integrative taxonomic analyses, Quasipaaverrucospinosa sensu stricto is distributed in Lao Cai, Vinh Phuc, Ha Giang, and Tuyen Quang provinces. Other records of Quasipaaverrucospinosa in northern and central Vietnam revealed to be representatives of two new species: Quasipaaohlerae sp. nov. from Son La, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An provinces and Quasipaabinhi sp. nov. from Quang Binh and Thua Thien Hue provinces. The two new species morphologically differ from each other and from other known species in the genus Quasipaa in size, skin texture, color pattern, and nuptial spines. The molecular analysis based on 16S rRNA and Cytb gene fragments showed that the genetic divergence between Quasipaaohlerae sp. nov. and other congeners ranges from 2.96% (compared with Q.delacouri and Quasipaabinhi sp. nov.) to 7.89% (compared with Q.exilispinosa) in the 16S gene and from 13.81% (compared with Q.delacouri) to 22.91% (compared with Quasipaa sp.) in the Cytb gene, while the p-distances between Quasipaabinhi sp. nov. and its congeners ranges from 2.34% (compared with Q.delacouri) to 6.12% (compared with Quasipaa sp.) in the 16S gene and from 10.15% (compared with Q.delacouri) to 21.88% (compared with Q.boulengeri) in the Cytb gene. These new findings bring the total number of known species in the genus Quasipaa to 15 and the recorded species from Vietnam to eight.