A new species of salamander, Hynobius yangi, is described from Kori (=Hyoam-ri), Busanshi, southeastern Korea. It is a lentic breeder belonging to the H. nebulosus species group, and has long been confused with another Korean species H. leechii. The new species, however, is genetically substantially differentiated from Korean and Japanese relatives. Hynobius yangi is morphologically very similar to H. leechii, but could be differentiated from it by the tail shape, degree of limb separation, shape of vomerine teeth series, shape of egg sac, and dorsal coloration.
cryptic species
Hynobius leechii
Hynobius quelpaertensis
Hynobius yangi
speciation
