Northeastern Guangxi Research Articles

Evaluating the influence of human disturbance on the ecosystem service scarcity value: an insightful exploration in Guangxi region

Investigating how human disturbance affects the ecosystem service scarcity value (ESSV) is crucial for maintaining ecosystem stability and achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study separately assessed ESSV and human disturbance in Guangxi from 1990 to 2020, revealing their spatiotemporal distribution differences over time. The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) is used to analyze the interrelationship between the two, with the purpose of filling the gap in current research. The main results are as follows: (1) From 1990 to 2020, ESSV in Guangxi increased significantly and reached its highest value in 2020. Under the four scenarios, ESSV increased significantly in Scenarios 2 and 4. Spatially, high ESSV was mainly distributed in some cities in central, southern, western and northeastern Guangxi. (2) The index of human disturbance in Guangxi continued to increase during the study period, with a high level of human disturbance in the central urban area and a low level of human disturbance in the peripheral areas, which were distributed in a radial pattern. (3) According to the EKC, the relationship between ESSV and human disturbance in Guangxi followed an inverted N-shaped curve. In addition, after 2010, the coupling and coordination level was dominated by “slightly balanced development”, and the area of “ESSV significantly lagged” gradually increased. This study provides a new perspective for understanding ESSV and its relationship with human disturbances, and provides an important reference for the sustainable management of ecosystems and the formulation of ecological conservation policies.

Southwest Boundary of Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks: Constraints from the Luojiashan Gabbro in Yingyangguan Region, Northeastern Guangxi

Southwest Boundary of Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks: Constraints from the Luojiashan Gabbro in Yingyangguan Region, Northeastern Guangxi

Geochronology and geochemistry of granites from the Longhua Ni-Co deposit, South China: Implication for the formation of Ni-Co mineralization

Mineral exploration activities since 2010 in a previously poorly explored region of northeastern Guangxi province, South China, confirmed the existence of a potentially large hydrothermal Ni-Co deposit. As a newly discovered deposit, many aspects of this deposit are still unclear, including in which tectonic setting the deposit formed and how the high-grade mineralization developed. To address these questions, in this study, we conduct a comprehensively geochronological and geochemical study on the Dajin pluton (consisting of biotite monzogranite and sericitized monzogranite), which is the only pluton occurring in the district. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating shows that two types of granites were emplaced nearly at the same time, with biotite monzogranite and sericitized monzogranite being 449 ± 15 Ma and 448.4 ± 8.8 Ma, respectively. This, combined with previously published studies, confirms that the Dajin pluton was broadly emplaced during the formation of the Longhua deposit. These granites are characterized by high K2O, and noticeable depletion of Eu, Sr, P and Ti, with whole-rock εNd(t) values ranging from −1.99 to −4.26 and zircon εHf(t) values ranging from −0.9 to 4.1. These features support that the studied granites are typical of A2-type granites, which experienced strong fractional crystallization and formed in a post-collisional environment. Although Co and Ni might not have been originally derived from granitic magmas, we suggest that the emplacement of the Dajin pluton facilitated the formation of high-grade Ni-Co mineralization in two ways: (1) melting the Co– and Ni-enriched mafic basement probably existing in the deep crust, and (2) remobilizing and concentrating metals from wall rocks.

A new species of the genus Neoperla Needham, 1905 from China and redescription of Paragnetina insignis Banks, 1939 (Plecoptera: Perlidae)

A new species of the stonefly genus Neoperla Needham, 1905, Neoperla xuanena sp. n., is described from southwestern Hubei Province of China. Paragnetina insignis Banks, 1939 is redescribed on the basis of male specimen from northeastern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, and the aedeagus of this species is described for the first time. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:02FE17BD-D99D-403E-86C3-7B6177CADC07

A New Species of the Genus Takydromus (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Northeastern Guangxi, China.

During our collecting trip to Guangxi in 2016, we collected ten specimens of the genus Takydromus from the suburb of Guilin, northeastern Guangxi, South China, and found that they did not belong to any currently known species. Here, we described this new species, Takydromus guilinensis sp. nov., based on morphological and mitochondrial DNA (CO1 and cyt b) data. This new species is a sister taxon to T. intermedius with a p-distance of 0.070 in CO1 and 0.080 in cyt b. These two p-distances exceed not only the minimum value (0.067) between T. septentrionalis and T. stejnegeri but also the minimum value (0.079) between T. intermedius and T. yunkaiensis. Morphologically, this new species differs from other currently recognized Takydromus species from the same clade, more evidently in the longitudinal rows of dorsal scales, transverse rows of scales at the mid-body and mensural variables. The description of Takydromus guilinensis sp. nov. increases the total number of Takydromus species to 25, of which 16 can be found in China. Takydromus guilinensis sp. nov. is currently known only from Guilin, Guangxi, South China, where it is sympatric with the other four Takydromus species (T. septentrionalis, T. kuehnei, T. sexlineatus and T. intermedius).

Prunus quanzhouensis: a newly discovered species of Prunus subgen. Cerasus (Rosaceae) from northeastern Guangxi, China

Prunus quanzhouensis is a new species of Rosaceae discovered in Guangxi, China, which is here described and illustrated. Despite its morphological similarities to P. campanulata, P. conradinae and P. xueluoensis, it can be distinguished from them by being shrubs or small trees, with 1.5–3.0 m tall, leaves with 10–13 pairs of lateral veins, abaxially glabrous involucral bracts, adaxially appressed villous bracts, flowers measuring 1–1.2 cm in diameter, tubular hypanthium with about 9×3 mm, oblique sepals, 30–35 stamens, and a style that is villous and longer than the stamens. Less than six populations of this new species have been found in the type locality, with approximately 130 mature individuals, which accounted for more than 95% of the total population. Based on direct observation in the field and the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, P. quanzhouensis is classified as Endangered (EN).

U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotope characterization of detrital zircons from Nanhua System of northeastern Guangxi and their constraints on the southwestern suture zone between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks, South China

U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotope characterization of detrital zircons from Nanhua System of northeastern Guangxi and their constraints on the southwestern suture zone between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks, South China

Mineralogical, Geochronological, and Geochemical Characteristics of Early Cretaceous Granite in South China: Implications for Tectonic Evolution and REE Mineralization

One of the most important geological features of South China are the widespread Mesozoic igneous rocks that play a key role in revealing the tectonic evolution of South China. Due to the thick covering of vegetation and Quaternary sediments, the early Cretaceous magmatism in southwestern South China is still not well constrained. In this paper, we report newly identified early Cretaceous granites in Guangxi, South China. Zircon U–Pb dating results showed that representative fine-grained and coarse-grained granites in northeastern Guangxi indicate the early Cretaceous ages of 141 ± 3 Ma and 141 ± 4 Ma, respectively. Geochemically, both fine-grained and coarse-grained granites had high 10,000 × Ga/Al ratios and belonged to A-type granite. They had undergone high degrees of magma differentiation, as evidenced by extremely negative Sr, Ba, and Eu anomalies. They had high REE (rare earth elements) contents (>451 ppm). The fine-grained granites were characterized by higher HREE (heavy rare earth elements) contents, lower LREE (light rare earth elements) contents, and lower LREE/HREE ratios than the coarse-grained granites. Integrated with regional geological data, the early Cretaceous granites were likely formed in a back-arc extensional environment in response to the increased subduction angle of the Paleo-Pacific plate. Different REE contents in the fine- and coarse-grained granites may be a result of fractional crystallization. Magma differentiation and hydrothermal alteration might have played an important role in REE mineralization of the early Cretaceous granites in Guangxi.

Ethnobotany of medicinal plants used by the Yao people in Gongcheng County, Guangxi, China

BackgroundGongcheng Yao Autonomous County (Gongcheng) is typical for the Yao people in northeastern Guangxi, southern China. The Yao people have a long history of using medicinal plants. In this study, we used ethnobotanical methods to collect traditional knowledge regarding herbal medicines in Gongcheng. Our study provides fundamental data for developing and applying local ethnic medicines and their protection.MethodsEthnobotanical data were collected from 103 villages in nine townships from 2014 to 2018 in Gongcheng. A total of 352 informants (279 male and 73 female) were interviewed through semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, and guided field walks. All the informants were local inhabitants aged between 28 and 101 years of age, of which 40 key informants were selected based on the recommendations of knowledgeable elders and local medical institutions. The informant consensus factor (ICF) was used to evaluate the degree and importance of differences in medicinal plant species and calculated the relative frequencies of citation (RFC) for the recorded medicinal plants.ResultsData from 352 local healers were collected for the study. The Guanyin and Sanjiang townships had the highest distribution of per capita healers (Pch), while the Gongcheng, Lianhua, and Ping'an townships were relatively lower. Of the 352 local healers, more than half were older than 60 years of age and therefore faced the problem of suitable successors and potential loss of traditional medicinal knowledge. There are 12 types of diseases treated by local healers in the study area, and most of the types had a high ICF value. The highest ICF (0.80) was reported for digestive system disease, followed by urinary system disease (0.78) and nervous system disease (0.77). Traumatic injury and orthopedics, digestive system, and rheumatic disease are the most common ailments. The RFC value calculated in 33 medicinal plant species (with an FC of more than 5) ranged from 0.024 to 0.056. The higher RFC values included Kadsura longipedunculata, Schefflera heptaphylla, Plantago asiatica, etc. The most commonly used medicinal method was decoction; plasters, creams, and some form of moxibustion and cupping skills were locally practiced, but only rarely. The local healers used 306 medicinal plant species (116 families and 255 genera). Herbal plants were most commonly used among these, with whole plants and roots being favored.ConclusionThe Yao people are highly skilled at using medicinal plants to treat various diseases in Gongcheng. Their treatment methods are varied, convenient, and efficient. Due to the impact of urbanization and economic development, knowledge of traditional medicine is under threat, with declining numbers of local healers and a lack of suitable successors. In order to protect and inherit Yao's traditional medicinal knowledge, it is necessary to educate young healers and to protect biodiversity.

Caroperla brevihamata (Plecoptera: Perlidae), a new stonefly species from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern China

A new species of the genus Caroperla Kohno, 1946, C. brevihamata Mo, Wang & Li, sp. nov., is described from the Huaping National Nature Reserve of northeastern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of southern, China. The relationships based on morphological characteristics of the new species and related species are discussed.

<p><strong><em>Sinosenecio ovatifolius </em></strong><strong>(Asteraceae), a new species from Guangxi, China</strong></p>

Sinosenecio ovatifolius (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species occurring in northeastern Guangxi, China, is illustrated and de-scribed with report on its floral micromorphological characters, achene surface feature and chromosome number. The new spe-cies is phylogenetically close to S. guangxiensis, S. jiangxiensis, S. jiuhuashanicus, S. latouchei, S. peltatus, S. saxatilis, and S. wuyiensis. Morphology and sequence divergence of the nrITS region indicate that S. ovatifolius is well differentiated from its close relatives. It most closely resembles S. guangxiensis and S. latouchei in the scapigerous habit, leaf texture and indumentum, but differs markedly in the ovate lamina, inconspicuously undulate-dentate margin and glabrous and smooth achene surface.

Ecology suitability study of Polygonatum cyrtonema

Using the 260 geographical distribution records of Polygonatum cyrtonema in China, combined with 53 environmental factors, the maximum entropy modeling(MaxEnt) was used to study the ecological factors affecting the suitability distribution of P. cyrtonema. The ArcGIS software was used to predict the potential distribution of the population of P. cyrtonema. The dominant factors were chosen by using the Jackknife test and the Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC) curve was used to evaluate the simulation. The results showed that high value of area under curve(AUC) denoted good results, which significantly differed from random predictions. Based on the evaluation criterion, the accuracies of the predictions of P. cyrtonema potential distribution in the current periods were excellent. The main environmental factors affecting the suitable growth of P. cyrtonema were the monthly precipitation, the wettest monthly precipitation, the annual average temperature range and the precipitation of November, March, February, April, May and October. There are 9 environmental factors in soil type. The potential fitness of P. cyrtonema in China is high, mainly concentra-ted in Hunan, western Hubei, Guangdong, northeastern Guangxi, southeastern Guizhou, Jiangxi, southwestern Anhui, Fujian, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, southwestern Henan and Chongqing. The growth distribution of the potential distribution area of P. cyrtonema was divided, and the zoning map of the growth suitability of P. cyrtonema was formed. Through the comparative analysis of the potential distribution range based on MaxEnt and the distribution range of literature records, the understanding of the distribution range of P. cyrtonema was expanded.

Four new species of Asian horned toads (Anura, Megophryidae, Megophrys) from southern China

Recent phylogenetic analysis encompassing multilocus nuclear-gene and matrilineal mtDNA genealogy has revealed a series of cryptic species of the subgenus Panophrys within genus Megophrys from southern and eastern China. This study demonstrates that the Panophrys specimens from the hilly areas among Guangdong, Guangxi and Hunan can be morphologically distinguished from all recognized congeners, thereby providing additional supports for the recognitions of four new species of Panophrys, namely Megophrys (Panophrys) mirabilis Lyu, Wang & Zhao, sp. nov. from northeastern Guangxi, Megophrys (Panophrys) shimentaina Lyu, Liu & Wang, sp. nov. from northern Guangdong, and Megophrys (Panophrys) xiangnanensis Lyu, Zeng & Wang, sp. nov. and Megophrys (Panophrys) yangmingensis Lyu, Zeng & Wang, sp. nov. from southern Hunan. The descriptions of these species take the number of Megophrys species to 101, 46 of which belong to the subgenus Panophrys.

Four new species of Asian horned toads (Anura, Megophryidae, Megophrys) from southern China

Recent phylogenetic analysis encompassing multilocus nuclear-gene and matrilineal mtDNA genealogy has revealed a series of cryptic species of the subgenus Panophrys within genus Megophrys from southern and eastern China. This study demonstrates that the Panophrys specimens from the hilly areas among Guangdong, Guangxi and Hunan can be morphologically distinguished from all recognized congeners, thereby providing additional supports for the recognitions of four new species of Panophrys, namely Megophrys (Panophrys) mirabilis Lyu, Wang & Zhao, sp. nov. from northeastern Guangxi, Megophrys (Panophrys) shimentaina Lyu, Liu & Wang, sp. nov. from northern Guangdong, and Megophrys (Panophrys) xiangnanensis Lyu, Zeng & Wang, sp. nov. and Megophrys (Panophrys) yangmingensis Lyu, Zeng & Wang, sp. nov. from southern Hunan. The descriptions of these species take the number of Megophrys species to 101, 46 of which belong to the subgenus Panophrys.

Multistage magmatic-hydrothermal activity and W-Cu mineralization at Jiepai, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, South China: Constraints from geochronology and Nd-Sr-Hf-O isotopes

The Jiepai W-Cu deposit, located in the northeastern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China, occurs along the contact zone between the Yuechengling granite batholith and the Cambrian dolomitic limestones and slates. The main body of the batholith is made of a Silurian monzogranite in the south and a Triassic monzogranite in the north. A number of Jurassic to Cretaceous fine-grained granite intrusions are present as stocks and dikes intersecting the batholith. The deposit includes five types of W-Cu ores, including (1) contact-zone scheelite skarn occurring at the lithological contact between monzogranite and dolomitic limestone, (2) strata-bound scheelite skarn hosted by dolomitic limestone, (3) disseminated or banded scheelite within gneissic granite, (4) titanite-bearing scheelite quartz veins cross-cutting the skarns and limestone, and (5) disseminated Cu sulfides within granodiorite, respectively. In this paper, we report new geochronological data obtained from zircon U-Pb, molybdenite Re-Os, and biotite and muscovite Ar-Ar analyses with the aim of constraining the timing of magmatic and mineralization events. Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb analyses of all the granitoids exposed in the deposit and its vicinity reveal six stages of magmatic emplacement dated at 448.4 ± 4.6 Ma, 434.6 ± 3.5 Ma, 429.4 ± 7.6 Ma, 219.2 ± 1.5 Ma, 156.0 ± 3.0 Ma, and 149.7 ± 2.2 Ma (weighted 206Pb/238U mean ages). Molybdenite Re-Os and muscovite and biotite Ar-Ar analyses reveal four W mineralization events that were associated with the magmatic emplacement at 448.4 ± 4.6 Ma, 429.4 ± 7.6 Ma, 219.2 ± 1.5 Ma, and 151.4 ± 1.9 Ma, and three Cu mineralization events at 434.3 ± 5.1 Ma, 152.2 ± 1.1 Ma, and 141.0 ± 2.5 Ma, respectively. The granites at the deposit and its vicinity document weak fractionation of light and heavy REEs, contain low concentrations of Ba, Nb, Sr, P, and Ti, but high concentration of Ta. Neodymium isotopic data of the W-mineralized Late Ordovician granites (εNd(t) = −4.87, T2DM = 1.6 Ga) imply magma mixing of mafic mantle material with Paleoproterozoic and/or Mesoproterozoic continental crust. By contrast, the Silurian granites (εNd(t) = −10.15 to −13.49) were formed by anatexis of the Paleoproterozoic continental crust. High-precision Hf-O isotope data obtained in this study indicate partial melting of the lower crust as the main source of the younger granites, and further reveal a complex evolution process that involved two or more sources of magmas.

Phylogeography of Begonia luzhaiensis suggests both natural and anthropogenic causes for the marked population genetic structure

BackgroundSino-Vietnamese limestone karsts (SVLK) are a biodiversity hotspot rich in endemic plant species associated with caves and cave-like microhabitats. Based on phylogenetic studies of Begonia sect. Coelocentrum, a species-rich and characteristic SVLK clade, geographic isolation caused by extensive and continuous karstification was proposed as the major driving force triggering population diversification and geographic speciation. To test this proposition, population genetics and phylogeography of Begonia luzhaiensis were investigated using EST-SSR markers and the chloroplast trnC-ycf6 intergenic spacer.ResultsF statistics, Bayesian clustering analysis, AMOVA, and PCoA of both data sets all indicated substantial population differentiation and significant isolation by distance. Nested clade phylogeographic analyses inferred that historical fragmentations have been prominent, congruent with Guangxi’s geohistory of karstification as well as suggesting a mountain chain in northeastern Guangxi could have also acted as a major geographic barrier. A Bayesian skyline plot (BSP) indicated a slight decline in effective population size at 75,000 years ago (75 Kya), coinciding with the last glacial period during which the increased aridity in East Asia had retarded karstification, negatively affecting the populations of B. luzhaiensis. However, BSP detected a continuous and further population decline until the present time even though summer monsoons have resumed since the end of the last glacial maximum.ConclusionsThe microevolution patterns of B. luzhaiensis support that limited gene flow would have greatly enhanced the effects of random genetic drift and has been a major factor promoting diversification in Begonia, highly congruent with previous proposition. Based our study, we further propose that the arrival of Paleolithic Homo sapiens whose activities centered around limestone caves could have had further impacts on the populations of B. luzhaiensis, resulting in additional population decline. Further habitat destruction could have resulted from the transition from hunter gathering to food-producing societies ca. 20–10 Kya and the development of agriculture ca. 10 Kya in South China. Implications of the current study for SVLK plant conservation are also discussed.

Magmatic‐Hydrothermal Mineralization Sequence in Xinlu Ore Field, Guangxi, South China: Constraints from Zircon U‐Pb, Molybdenite Re‐Os, and Muscovite Ar‐Ar Dating

AbstractThe Xinlu Sn‐polymetallic ore field is located in the western Nanling Polymetallic Belt in northeastern Guangxi, South China, where a number of typical skarn‐, hydrothermal vein‐type tin deposits have developed. There are two types of Sn deposits: skarn‐type and sulfide‐quartz vein‐type. The tin mineralizations mainly occur on the south side of the Guposhan granitic complex pluton and within its outer contact zone. To constrain the Sn mineralization age and further understand its genetic links to the Guposhan granitic complex, a series of geochronological works has been conducted at the Liuheao deposit of the ore field using high‐precision zircon SHRIMP U‐Pb, molybdenite Re‐Os, and muscovite Ar‐Ar dating methods. The results show that the biotite‐monzogranite, which is part of the Xinlu intrusive unit of the Guposhan complex pluton, has a SHRIMP U‐Pb zircon age of 161.0 ± 1.5 Ma. The skarn‐type ore has a 40Ar‐39Ar muscovite plateau age of 160 ± 2 Ma (same as its isochron age), and the sulfide‐quartz vein‐type ore yields an Re‐Os molybdenite isochron age of 154.4 ± 3.5 Ma. The magmatic‐hydrothermal geochronological sequence demonstrated that the hydrothermal mineralization took place immediately following the emplacement of the monzogranite, with the skarn metasomatic mineralization stage predating the sulfide mineralization stage. Geochronologically, we have compared this ore field with 26 typical Sn deposits distributed along the Nanling Polymetallic Belt, leading to the suggestion of the magmatic‐metallogenic processes in the Xinlu ore field (ca. 161–154 Ma) as a component of the Early Yanshanian large‐scale Sn‐polymetallic mineralization event (peaked at 160–150 Ma) in the Nanling Range of South China. Petrogenesis of Sn‐producing granite and Sn‐polymetallic mineralization were probably caused by crust–mantle interaction as a result of significant lithospheric extension and thinning in South China in the Late Jurassic.

<p><strong>A new species of <em>Tashiroea</em> (Melastomataceae, Sonerileae) from Guangxi, China</strong></p>

Tashiroea dayaoshanensis (Melastomataceae, Sonerileae), a species from northeastern Guangxi, China and previously often identified as Phyllagathis nudipes or P. oligotricha in Chinese herbaria, is described as new based on morphological and molecular data. Indumentum, leaf texture and surface sculpture, capsule morphology and molecular phylogenetic data strongly support the placement of T. dayaoshanensis within the Tashiroea clade which should be accommodated in Tashiroea. Morphology as well as sequence divergence of the nrITS region indicate that T. dayaoshanensis is well differentiated from other species in the same clade, and thus should be treated as a distinct species. Tashiroea dayaoshanensis is phylogenetically closest to Bredia sessilifolia but can be easily distinguished by its petiolate leaves (vs. sessile or subsessile), and crowned ovary (vs. uncrowned). It resembles P. nudipes and P. oligotricha in habit and stamen morphology but differs from both in its leaf apex acuminate (vs. acute to obtuse), connective ventrally tuberculate (vs. not tuberculate) and ovary crown exerted from calyx tube during young fruit stage (vs. not exerted).

Cave millipede diversity with the description of six new species from Guangxi, China

We synthesized the current knowledge of cave-dwelling millipede diversity from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi), South China Karst, China and described six new millipede species from four caves from the Guilin area, northeastern Guangxi. Fifty-two cave-dwelling millipedes are known for the region consisting of 38 troglobionts and 14 troglophiles. Of the troglobionts, 24 are presently considered single-cave endemics. New species described here includeHyleoglomerisrukouqusp. nov.andHyleoglomerisxuxiakeisp. nov.(Family Glomeridae),Hylomusyuanisp. nov.(Family Paradoxosomatidae),Eutrichodesmusjianjiasp. nov.(Family Haplodesmidae),Trichopeltisliangfengdongsp. nov.(Family Cryptodesmidae), andGlyphiulusmaocunsp. nov.(Family Cambalopsidae). Our work also resulted in range expansions ofPacidesmustrifidusGolovatch & Geoffroy, 2014,BlingulussinicusZhang & Li, 1981 andGlyphiulusmelanoporusMauriès & Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin, 1997. As with many hypogean animals in Southeast Asia, intensive human activities threaten the persistence of both cave habitats and species. We provide both assessments on the newly described species’ distributions and recommendations for future research and conservation efforts.

Description of two cryptic species of the Amolopsricketti group (Anura, Ranidae) from southeastern China.

Two cryptic species, which were previously reported as Amolopsricketti, are revealed on the basis of significant morphological and genetic divergences. Amolopssinensissp. n. from central Guangdong, northeastern Guangxi and southwestern Hunan can be distinguished by the longitudinal glandular folds on the skin of the shoulders and other character combinations. Amolopsyatsenisp. n. from the coastal hills of west Guangdong can be distinguished by the dense tiny round translucent, or white, spines on the dorsal skin of the body, dorsal and dorsolateral skin of the limbs, and other character combinations. The phylogenetic interrelationships of the A.ricketti group have been inferred as (A.wuyiensis + A.ricketti) + (A.yunkaiensis + (A.albispinus + (A.sinensissp. n. + A.yatsenisp. n.))). This work indicates that the current records of A.ricketti might be a species complex composed of multiple species, and further work is needed to figure out this puzzle.