Rhacophoridae Research Articles

Taxonomic status of Pseudophilautus conniffae (Anura: Rhacophoridae) an endemic shrub frog restricted to South–Western wet zone of Sri Lanka

Pseudophilautus conniffae from Lowland wet zone of Sri Lanka, was described as a new species in 2019. The validity of the new species was questionable and was often challenged as it shares strong morphological resemblance with P. limbus. Moreover, the phylogenetic placement of P. conniffae was unknown as no molecular data was available until now. Here, we generated 16S DNA sequences and re-examined the external morphological characters to assess its taxonomic distinctiveness. Pseudophilautus conniffae was recovered as being close to P. limbus with strong posterior probability and bootstrap support. The uncorrected pairwise genetic distance between P. conniffae and P. limbus was negligible, being less than 0.3% for the 16S gene fragment. Further two molecular species delimitation methods, ABGD and mPTP suggested that P. conniffae and P. limbus are a single operational taxonomic unit. The Principal Component Analysis of the morphometric characters also resulted in overlapping clusters. These results suggest that the newly described P. conniffae is not a valid species and we conclude that P. conniffae as a junior synonym of P. limbus.

Distribusi Herpetofauna di Kawasan Hutan Lindung Gambut Sungai Buluh Tanjung Jabung Timur

Hutan Lindung Gambut (HLG) Sungai Buluh is one of the village forests in East Tanjung Jabung. Peat soil has high water content and is herpetofauna habitat. Herpetofauna acts as a prey and predator in the peat ecosystem. Some of them occupy the position of top predators on food networks in the peat ecosystem. The existence of this group of animals also acts as an environmental bioindicator which can be indicated by its species richness and individual count. This research was conducted on two habitat conditions (terrestrial and aquatic) with the aim of this study were the distribution and habitat characteristics of herpetofauna in the HLG Sungai Buluh. This study used the Visual Encounter Survey (VES) method which was combined by transect lines in each habitat. Sampling was done nocturnal and diurnal. The specimens obtained then preserved in 70% alcohol. The results showed total of 105 individual herpetofauna consisting of 4 Anura families (Bufonidae 1 species, Dicroglossidae 3 species, Rhacophoridae 3 species, and Ranidae 4 species) and 4 Reptile families (Agamidae 3 species, Scincidae 2 species, Gekkonidae 1 species, and Natricidae 1 species). Eleven species were found in the terrestrial habitat transect while eleven species were found in aquatic habitat transects. Furthermore, four species were found in both habitat transects. From these results it can be concluded that the HLG Sungai Buluh has a suitable habitat for herpetofauna. However, further research needs to be carried out covering the entire are of HLG Sungai Buluh

An integrative approach to infer systematic relationships and define species groups in the shrub frog genus Raorchestes, with description of five new species from the Western Ghats, India.

The genus Raorchestes is a large radiation of Old World tree frogs for which the Western Ghats in Peninsular India is the major center for origin and diversification. Extensive studies on this group during the past two decades have resolved long-standing taxonomic confusions and uncovered several new species, resulting in a four-fold increase in the number of known Raorchestes frogs from this region. Our ongoing research has revealed another five new species in the genus, formally described as Raorchestes drutaahu sp. nov., Raorchestes kakkayamensis sp. nov., Raorchestes keirasabinae sp. nov., Raorchestes sanjappai sp. nov., and Raorchestes vellikkannan sp. nov., all from the State of Kerala in southern Western Ghats. Based on new collections, we also provide insights on the taxonomic identity of three previously known taxa. Furthermore, since attempts for an up-to-date comprehensive study of this taxonomically challenging genus using multiple integrative taxonomic approaches have been lacking, here we review the systematic affinities of all known Raorchestes species and define 16 species groups based on evidence from multi-gene (2,327 bp) phylogenetic analyses, several morphological characters (including eye colouration and pattern), and acoustic parameters (temporal and spectral properties, as well as calling height). The results of our study present novel insights to facilitate a better working taxonomy for this rather speciose and morphologically conserved radiation of shrub frogs. This will further enable proper field identification, provide momentum for multi-disciplinary studies, as well as assist conservation of one of the most colourful and acoustically diverse frog groups of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.

New locality records and call description of the Resplendent Shrub Frog Raorchestes resplendens (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats, India

Abstract: The Resplendent Shrub Frog, Raorchestes resplendens Biju, Shouche, Dubois, Dutta, & Bossuyt, 2010 is a Critically Endangered species endemic to the Western Ghats and was considered to be restricted to a three-square kilometer patch atop Anamudi summit. In this study, we report 36 new locations of the species from the Anamalai massif of the southern Western Ghats. Niche-based prediction modelling suggests that the species is restricted to Anamalai massif. The call description of this frog is also provided for the first time. The preferred microhabitat of the frog is Chrysopogon grass clumps in the marshy/swampy montane grassland ecosystem. Restricted to a small area with controlled burning management practiced in its habitat, R. resplendens needs immediate attention.

Natural history of Ghate’s Shrub Frog, Raorchestes ghatei (Rhacophoridae), from the northern Western Ghats, India

Natural history of Ghate’s Shrub Frog, Raorchestes ghatei (Rhacophoridae), from the northern Western Ghats, India

The Taxonomic Status and Distribution Range of Six Theloderma Species (Anura: Rhacophoridae) with a New Record in China

The problems of identification, number and distribution of Theloderma species living in China are discussed on the base of new original morphological and molecular data collected during the last years. According to the author’s results there are six known Theloderma species living in China: Theloderma albopunctatum (Liu et Hu, 1962), Theloderma baibungense Jiang, Fei et Huang, 2007, Theloderma bicolor (Bourret, 1937), Theloderma corticale (Boulenger, 1903), Theloderma moloch (Annandale, 1912), and Theloderma rhododiscus Liu et Hu, 1962.

Fluorescent Frogs: A Herpetological Perspective

Fil: Taboada, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Quimica, Fisica de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Quimica, Fisica de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energia; Argentina

A new genus and species of treefrog from Medog, southeastern Tibet, China (Anura, Rhacophoridae).

A new genus and species of threefrog is described from Medog, southeastern Tibet, China based on morphological and phylogenetic data. The new genus can be distinguished from other treefrog genera by the following combination of characters: (1) body size moderate, 45.0 mm in male; (2) snout rounded; (3) canthus rostralis obtuse and raised prominently, forming a ridge from nostril to anterior corner of eyes; (4) web rudimentary on fingers; (5) web moderately developed on toes; (6) phalange "Y" shaped, visible from dorsal side of fingers and toes; (7) skin of dorsal surfaces relatively smooth, scatted with small tubercles; (8) iris with a pale yellow, "X" shaped pattern of pigmentation.

Pseudophilautus dilmah, a new species of shrub frog (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from a threatened habitat Loolkandura in Sri Lanka

A new species of shrub frog Pseudophilautus dilmah is described from the Central Hills of Sri Lanka. This unique species is distinguished from all the other congeners from a combination of characters; snout rounded in lateral aspect, bluntly pointed in dorsal and ventral aspect, canthus rostralis rounded, vomerine teeth, lingual papilla and nuptial pads absent, dermal fringe distinct on inside of fingers III and IV, small blunt tubercles on metacarpal and ulnar folds, toes basally webbed, interorbital area smooth, upper eyelid prominent tubercles present, anterior and posterior dorsum without horny spinules but tubercles present, upper part of flank weakly granular, supratympanic fold distinct, prominent small calcar present at the distal end of the tibia, throat granular, chest and belly coarsely granular. Based on comparison of 16s rRNA gene we also show that the species is genetically distinct from other members of Pseudophilautus for which gene sequences are available. The high rate of deforestation and anthropogenic activities threaten this population in its natural habitat.

ACTIVITY BUDGET AND PERCH CHARACTERISTICS OF Pseudophilautus popularis (MANAMENDRA-ARACHCHI & PETHIYAGODA, 2005) (AMPHIBIA: RHACOPHORIDAE) DURING THE BREEDING SEASON

This study reports activity budget and perch characteristics of the Sri Lankan endemic shrub frog Pseudophilautus popularis in a wetland-home garden setting in an urban area. Thirty-two frogs were studied from 18:30–06:00h and 45% of the time they were found to be stationary without any activity. The highest percentage of time was utilised for calling and courtship (52%). This study reveals that the frogs occupy different heights during their nightly activity period, starting from the ground level and gradually moving up among the vegetation. They were reported to reach the maximum heights around 23:00h, remaining there for nearly two hours and then retreating downwards towards the dawn. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining diversity of vegetation especially in terms of stratification in ensuring habitat quality to conserve this species.

Two New Rhacophorid Frogs from Cat Ba Island, Gulf of Tonkin (Hai Phong Province, Vietnam)

Two new species of microsized rhacophorid frogs of the genera Liuixalus and Philautus are described from Cat Ba island, Gulf of Tonkin, Hai Phong Province, Vietnam, based on field work done in 2008–2011. A diagnosis of the genus Liuixalus is given, with discussion on estimated distribution of this genus. Both new species are potential endemics so far known only for Cat Ba island.

Raorchestes ghatei, a new species of shrub frog (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

A new species of shrub frog Raorchestes ghatei is described from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. The species differs from its congeners based on a combination of characters including small to medium-sized adult males, snout mucronate in dorsal view, canthus rostralis angular and sharp, snout slightly projecting beyond mouth ventrally, tympanum indistinct and one third of the eye diameter, tongue without papilla but with a lingual pit, nuptial pad rudimentary to absent, a bony tubercle on humerus at the end of deltoid ridge present in males and absent in females, skin finely granulated or smooth dorsally, lateral side marbled with white blotches on brown to black background. Molecular phylogeny based on 16S rRNA gene sequence suggests that the new species is genetically distinct and forms a monophyletic clade within Raorchestes. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism with males having single sub-gular vocal sac and a tubercle on the humerus while females lack them. The species shows direct development. The species is widely distributed in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra.

Two new species of polystomes (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) from the anuran host Guibemantis liber

Madapolystoma ramilijaonae n. sp. and Madapolystoma cryptica n. sp. (Monogenea, Polystomatidae) are described from the urinary bladder of disjunct populations of the Madagascar shrub frog Guibemantis liber. Although only minor morphological characters distinguish the new species from the single nominal species of the genus, i.e. Madapolystoma biritika, their strong and concordant differentiation in a mitochondrial and a nuclear gene supplemented by phylogenetic analyses indicates that M. ramilijaonae n. sp. and M. cryptica n. sp. should be regarded as two distinct species. Because anuran polystomes are known to be host-specific, the description of two cryptic species from a single host species points to a taxonomic complex situation in G. liber, a widespread frog that is characterized by the presence of several deep conspecific lineages and possibly by hybridization and admixture with other species of Guibemantis.

A new shrub frog in the genus Platymantis (Ceratobatrachidae) from the Nakanai Mountains of eastern New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago.

We describe a new-species of high elevation rainforest shrub frog (genus Platymantis) from the Nakanai Mountains of eastern New Britain (Bismarck Archipelago), Papua New Guinea. The distinctive new species possesses a moderate body size (29.5-32.2 mm in four males), widely expanded finger and toe disks, smooth to slightly granular dorsal skin, low but distinctly protuberant supraocular and tarsal tubercles, a conspicuous series of bright yellow flank areolations, a low but distinct intraocular sagittal crest, bronze-brown iris, and a unique advertisement call. We compare the new species with congeneric New Britain taxa and to other phenotypically similar species from the Solomon-Bismarck-Admiralty archipelagos. The new species is phenotypically most similar to P macrosceles Zweifel 1975, and has been collected at only one high elevation site (Tompoi Camp). The available data suggest that the new species, known from 1700 m, is elevationally segregated from P. macroscles (to date, only recorded from 800-900 m in the Nakanai Mountains). New Britain Island has emerged as a major center of endemic ceratobatrachid species diversity. Additional species are anticipated to result from ongoing field work, especially in the western portion of the island, which remains largely unexplored.

New Species of Theloderma from Kon Tum Province (Vietnam) and Nagaland State (India) [Anura: Rhacophoridae

Eleven known species of the genus Theloderma are distributed in Indochina, eastern India, Sumatra (Indonesia) and Sri Lanka (see Appendix I ). A description of two new species is presented. Theloderma ryabovi sp. nov. originated from Kon Tum Province, Vietnam. It is characterized by a combination of the following characters: webs between fingers and toes, shape of head and body, limb proportions, nature of integument and color pattern. A second new species, Theloderma nagalandensis sp. nov. is described from Nagaland State, northeastern India. It differs from the congeners in the following characters: head shape, tympanum size, dorsal ridges and warts, webbing between fingers and toes, coloration and possesion of vomerine teeth.

A New Species of Philautus from Vietnam (Anura: Rhacophoridae)

Based on the results of own field work (in Vietnam) as well as on the data from the literature and additional museum collections we estimated 48 species (5 genera), belonging to the family Rhacophoridae, occur in Vietnam ( Appendix ). This estimate is derived from those species that have been examined by ourselves as well as taking into account the current understanding of rhacophorid taxonomy and records (Bain and Nguyen, 2004; Bourret, 1937, 1939, 1942; Frost, 2004; Inger et al, 1999; Matsui and Orlov, 2003; Nguen and Ho, 1996; Ohler et al., 2000; Orlov, 1997; Orlov and Ho, 2000a, 2000b; Orlov et al., 2001, 2002, 2004; Smith, 1924; Ziegler, 2002; Ziegler and Kohler, 2001; Ziegler et al., 2004). In 2003 – 2005 we found a number of records of rhacophorids in provinces Kon Tum, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Tri, and Quang Binh and in particular the new species of the genus Philautus .

A New Species of the Genus Philautus from Central Vietnam (Anura: Rhacophoridae)

A new rhacophorid species of the tribe Rhacophorini, tentatively assigned to the genus Philautus , is described on the basis of five specimens collected from Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang and Quang Nam provinces, central Vietnam. It is most similar to P. gracilipes in external morphology and coloration, much different from the other congeners.

A New Species of Rhacophorid Frog from Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Orissa, India

Philautus similipalensis , a new species of rhacophorid frog is described from the proposed Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Orissa, in southeastern India. The new species is compared with congeners from India and Sri Lanka, from which it differs in the following characters: head size, supratympanic fold, finger and toe webbing, indistinct tympanum, skin texture and coloration and tongue without papilla.

Lost and found: One of the world's most elusive amphibians, Pseudophilautus stellatus (Kelaart 1853) rediscovered.

Pseudophilautus stellatus (Kelaart 1853) has been rediscovered from the Peak Wilderness, Central Hills of Sri Lanka. The species, till now known only from its lost holotype, was the first shrub frog described from Sri Lanka, and had not been reported since then. It was thought to have become extinct for nearly 157 years, being the amphibian species "lost" for the longest amount of time. Here we designate a neotype from the material collected at what we consider its type locality, having considered characters of the lost holotype and provide a complete description. We have conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis, on which basis the species is well differentiated from all other Pseudophilautus sequenced so far, and placed in a clade together with P. femoralis, P. frankenbergi, P. mooreorum, and P. poppiae.

The vocal repertoire of Pseudophilautus kani, a shrub frog (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Western Ghats of India

Taxonomic descriptions of new anuran species are published with high frequency in the recent systematics literature. In contrast, there are fewer detailed quantitative descriptions of the vocalizations of these new species. Here, we describe the vocalizations of a recently described shrub frog, Pseudophilautus kani (Anura: Rhacophoridae; Biju and Bossuyt 2009) endemic to the Western Ghats region of India. We recorded two distinct, pulsatile call types that could be distinguished by their temporal and spectral properties as well as their mode of production. Type 1 calls (creek) were short ( ≈ 85 ms), consisted of about six or seven pulses (92 pulses/s) and had a spectrum with a single frequency peak at about 3.5 kHz. By comparison, Type 2 calls (ta-ta-ta-ta) were typically longer ( ≈ 320 ms), contained fewer pulses (4–5) produced at much lower rates (12 pulses/s) and had broadband spectra with multiple frequency peaks, two of which were consistently present at about 2.3 and 4.6 kHz. Video analyses indicated that males produced pulses in Type 1 calls using a single, continuous contraction of the trunk musculature, whereas pulses of Type 2 calls were produced with separate muscle contractions. In both call types, spectral properties were significantly negatively related with body length and body mass. The pulse rate and pulse period of Type 2 calls were also related to body size. No call properties were correlated with body condition. Patterns of individual variation in call properties were generally consistent with those described for other anurans.