Rhacophorus borneensis

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Rhacophorus borneensis
Rhacophorus borneensis.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Rhacophoridae
Genus: Rhacophorus
Species:
R. borneensis
Binomial name
Rhacophorus borneensis
Matsui  [ fr ], Shimada, and Sudin, 2013 [1]

Rhacophorus borneensis is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. [2] This recently (2013) described species [1] is endemic to Malaysian Borneo where it is known from its type locality in the Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sandakan Division, Sabah as well as from the Batang Ai National Park, Sarawak. [1] [2] Prior to its description, it was included in Rhacophorus reinwardtii . [1] [2] [3] It is said to be "one of the prettiest frogs of Borneo". Common name Borneo flying frog has been coined for it. [3]

Contents

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Rhacophorus borneensis is only known from two locations in Malaysian Borneo.

Description

The type series consists of an adult male and female in amplexus. The male measured 51 mm (2.0 in) in snout–vent length (SVL) and the female 62 mm (2.4 in). Literature records for Bornean "Rhacophorus reinwardtii", likely representing this species, give a range 46–55 mm (1.8–2.2 in) for males and 56–65 mm (2.2–2.6 in) for females. [4]

The body is dorsoventrally compressed. The snout is rounded dorsally and sloping downwards in profile. The eyes are large and protuberant. The canthus is distinct and blunt. The tympanum is distinct and subcircular; the supra-tympanic fold is oblique. The fingers and toes have large discs and are broadly webbed. The dorsum is smooth and uniformly green, although some specimens may have dark spots. The lips are white. The lower parts are immaculate yellowish orange, with chin mottled with small, back spots. The webbing is dorsally black with fine blue streaks. [4]

The male advertisement call is a low chuckle, likened to a woodpecker. [3]

Habitat

The type series, a pair in amplexus, was collected at night when the frogs were perching on a tree branch that extended above the surface of a shallow pool at an elevation of 1,050 m (3,440 ft) above sea level. No tadpoles nor eggs were found. [1] Frog species sharing the same habitat included Chiromantis inexpectatus , [4] Kurixalus appendiculatus , Polypedates macrotis , and Microhyla petrigena . [1] Chiromantis inexpectatus was described based on specimens from the same pool. [4] Outside breeding season, Rhacophorus borneensis live high up in the canopy and are difficult to observe. [1] [3] The species is found in primary forest as well as in secondary or disturbed forest. [3]

Conservation

As of late 2017, the species had not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. [5] The type locality, Maliau Basin Conservation Area, [1] is not easy accessible, [4] whereas the other known locality is a protected area, Batang Ai National Park. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Rhacophorus</i> Genus of amphibians

Rhacophorus is a genus of frogs in the shrub-frog family Rhacophoridae, which, with the related Hylidae, is one of the two genera of true tree frogs. They are found in China, India, Japan, and throughout Southeast Asia, including the island of Borneo. Over 40 species are currently recognised.

<i>Meristogenys</i> Genus of amphibians

Meristogenys is a genus of true frogs from Borneo. Its tadpoles are adapted to fast-flowing mountain streams and easily recognizable by their divided upper lip with ribs on the outside.

<i>Staurois</i> Genus of amphibians

Staurois is a small genus of minuscule true frogs. Most species in the genus are restricted to Borneo, but two species are from the Philippines. This genus is a quite ancient member of the true frog family, Ranidae. They are typically found in or near rapidly flowing, small rocky streams, and are sometimes known as splash frogs or foot-flagging frogs. The latter name refers to their unusual behavior of conspicuously waving their hindlegs and feet, as a way of signalling other members of the species. Similar behavior has also been documented in other frog genera, notably Hylodes and Micrixalus.

<i>Leptobrachium montanum</i> Species of frog

Leptobrachium montanum is a species of frog from the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to Borneo and is, as currently defined, found in Kalimantan (Indonesia), Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia), and Labi, Belait (Brunei). However, the nominal Leptobrachium montanum is a composed of more than one lineage. Available information mostly refers to this composite rather than the "true" Leptobrachium montanum. Common names montane large-eyed litter frog, mountain spadefoot toad, and mountain litter frog have been coined for it.

Microhyla borneensis, also known as the Matang narrow-mouthed frog, is a species of microhylid frog found in the Matang Range in Sarawak, Borneo. It was once the smallest known frog from the Old World. Adult males of this species have a snout-vent length (SVL) of 10.6–12.8 mm (0.42–0.50 in), but adult males can reach a maximum of 13 mm (0.51 in),and adult females of this species have a snout-vent length of 16–19 mm (0.63–0.75 in), Tadpoles measure just 3 mm.

Meristogenys amoropalamus is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to northern Borneo and occurs in northwestern Sabah and northeastern Sarawak (Malaysia) and in northeastern Kalimantan (Indonesia). Common names mountain Borneo frog and mountain torrent frog have been coined for it. Studies of its larvae revealed that the nominal species contained two cryptic forms, and in 2011, Shimada and colleagues described Meristogenys dyscritus as a separate species.

<i>Meristogenys jerboa</i> Species of frog

Meristogenys jerboa is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to western Sarawak in Borneo. Common names western torrent frog, Matang torrent frog, and Gunther's Borneo frog have been coined for it. Many cryptic species have been separated from this species. Based on mitochondrial DNA, current "true" Meristogenys jerboa still includes two major lineages. However, because the lineages occur in sympatry and do not differ in morphology, Shimada and colleagues elected to treat them as intraspecific variants.

Meristogenys macrophthalmus is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to Sarawak in northern Borneo (Malaysia) and is only known from its type locality in the Bintulu District. The specific name macrophthalmus is derived from the Greek words macros (="large") and ophthalmos (="eye") and refers to the large eyes of this frog. Common names Matsui's Borneo frog, large-eyed torrent frog, and big-eyed torrent frog have been coined for it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common tree frog</span> Species of amphibian

Polypedates leucomystax is a species in the shrub frog family Rhacophoridae. It is known under numerous common names, including common tree frog, four-lined tree frog, golden tree frog or striped tree frog. Many past authors have united it with the common Indian tree frog in P. maculatus, but today they are generally considered distinct species. In its native range, it is also called "white-lipped tree frog", but this name is otherwise applied to a species of true tree frogs.

Zhangixalus omeimontis is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae endemic to China. Its common name is Omei whipping frog or Omei treefrog, in reference to its type locality, Mount Emei (Chinese: 峨嵋山; pinyin: Éméi Shān; Wade–Giles: O2-mei2 Shan1) in Sichuan. It is found in southern and central China in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, and Hubei provinces. It is a relatively common frog that inhabits forests, and sometimes farmland. It breeds in still water (pools and ponds). Agriculture and logging are threats to this species.

<i>Feihyla kajau</i> Species of frog

Feihyla kajau, also known as the Dring's flying frog, white-eared tree frog, and white-eared jelly-nest frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Borneo and found in all major jurisdictions of the island Kalimantan (Indonesia), Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia), and Brunei. The specific name kajau is Berawan for "charming".

<i>Rhacophorus kio</i> Species of amphibian

Rhacophorus kio is a species of flying frog in the family Rhacophoridae and is found in the rainforests of southeast Asia, in countries such as China, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its ability to glide and its adhesive toe pads make it well adapted to its habitat of the rainforest. Prior to a 2006 study by Annemarie Ohler and Magali Delorme, R. kio and R. reinwardtii were thought to be the same species. The common name black-webbed treefrog can refer to either species. Compared to other frog species in the area, R. kio not only creates a foam nest that holds their eggs, but also creates a structure with leaves that will wrap around the eggs. While the conservation status of the species is currently classified as of least concern by the IUCN Red List, R. kio faces habitat loss from deforestation to make space for agriculture and other human influences.

Rohanixalus senapatiensis, commonly known as Senapti's tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae endemic to north-eastern India. It is only known from its type locality around the Mabing river near Kangpokpi in Senapati district, Manipur state.

Rhacophorus robertingeri is a species of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae endemic to Vietnam. First found in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam, it is now known from mountain areas between Hà Giang or Nghệ An Province in the north and Gia Lai or Bình Thuận Province in the south, depending on the source. This species can be differentiated from its congeners based on the pointed projection at the tibiotarsal articulation, as well as coloration.

Sabahphrynus is a monotypic genus of amphibians in the family Bufonidae. The sole species is Sabahphrynus maculatus, also known as the spotted Asian tree toad or Sabah earless toad. It is endemic to Borneo where it is only known from Sabah, East Malaysia.

Leptobrachium waysepuntiense is a species of frog in the family Megophryidae. It is endemic to southwestern Sumatra, Indonesia. Its type locality is Kubu Perahu village, Liwa District, West Lampung Regency, Lampung Province, Sumatra. It has blue eyes, and accordingly, common name blue-eyed litter frog has been proposed for it.

<i>Feihyla inexpectata</i> Species of frog

Feihyla inexpectata is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. This recently (2014) described species is endemic to Malaysian Borneo and known from its type locality in the Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sandakan Division, Sabah and from Danum Valley, also in Sabah. Common name Bornean opposite-fingered tree frog has been coined for it.

Zhangixalus jarujini is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to north-eastern Thailand and known from the Kalasin, Roi Et, and Ubon Ratchathani Provinces. The specific name jarujini honours Jarujin Nabhitabhata from the National Science Museum of Thailand. Common name Jarujin's treefrog has been coined for it.

Meristogenys maryatiae, also known as Maryati's torrent frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It is endemic to the state of Sabah, in the Malaysian part of Borneo. The specific name honours Prof. Datin Mohamed Maryati, entomologist from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah, who helped the describers of this species during their herpetological surveys in Sabah.

Kurixalus absconditus is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to West Kalimantan, in the Indonesian part of Borneo, and is only known from its type locality near the village of Piasak; it is likely to occur more widely. The specific name absconditus is Latin for "disguised", "concealed", or "hidden", and refers to this species remaining "undetected" within the Kurixalus appendiculatus group. Common name Piasak-frilled swamp treefrog, also spelled Piasak frilled swamp tree frog, has been coined for it.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Matsui, Masafumi; Shimada, Tomohiko; Sudin, Ahmad (2013). "A new gliding frog of the genus Rhacophorus from Borneo". Current Herpetology. 32 (2): 112–124. doi:10.5358/hsj.32.112. S2CID   85924242.
  2. 1 2 3 Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Rhacophorus borneensis Matsui, Shimada, and Sudin, 2013". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Haas, A.; Das, I. & Hertwig, S.T. (2017). "Rhacophorus borneensis (Borneo Flying Frog)". Frogs of Borneo. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Matsui, Masafumi; Shimada, Tomohiko; Sudin, Ahmad (2014). "First record of the tree-frog genus Chiromantis from Borneo with the description of a new species (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae)". Zoological Science. 31 (1): 45–51. doi: 10.2108/zsj.31.45 . PMID   24410495. S2CID   207287701.
  5. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" . Retrieved 7 November 2017.