Zhangixalus

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Zhangixalus
Rhacophorus arvalis (farmland green treefrog).jpg
Zhangixalus arvalis from Taiwan
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Rhacophoridae
Subfamily: Rhacophorinae
Genus: Zhangixalus
Li, Jiang, Ren, and Jiang, 2019 [1]
Type species
Polypedates dugritei
David, 1872
Species

43 species (see text)

Zhangixalus is a genus of frogs in the subfamily Rhacophorinae, family Rhacophoridae. [2] [3] They are collectively known as Zhang's treefrogs. [1] [2] They occur in the Eastern Himalayas, southern China, Taiwan, Japan, and southeast Asia. [2]

Contents

Etymology

The name of the genus honors Zhang Ya-Ping from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in recognition to his contributions to biodiversity and evolution research in China, in combination with ixalus, a common generic root for treefrogs. [1]

Taxonomy

Zhangixalus was erected in a 2019 revision of the then very large genus Rhacophorus (92 species) that was split in three lineages: Rhacophorus sensu stricto (then 39 species; as of November 2021, 43 species [4] ), resurrected Leptomantis (then 14 species; as of November 2021, 13 species [4] ), and Zhangixalus (then 37 species; as of November 2021, 40 species [4] ). The split was based on molecular data, but was supported by morphological characteristics and differences in geographic distribution. Rhacophorus is the sister taxon to the clade formed by Zhangixalus and Leptomantis. [1]

Description

Zhangixalus are relatively large frogs, ranging between 30 and 120 mm (1.2 and 4.7 in) in snout–vent length, but typically more than 50 mm (2.0 in). The snout is rounded. The terminal phalanges of fingers and toes are Y-shaped. Dorsal skin is smooth or scattered with small tubercles. Most species have green dorsal coloration. Reproduction involves white foam nests produced by breeding pairs. [1]

Zhangixalus, as delimited by Jiang and colleagues, includes a deeply divergent clade containing Z. achantharrhena , Z. dulitensis , and Z. prominanus . They differ from other Zhangixalus by possessing dermal folds along limbs and tarsal projections. The placement of these species is tentative, pending further study. [1]

Zhangixalus are mostly larger than their closest relative, Leptomantis, and have generally green dorsal coloration, instead of light tan or reddish brown. They differ from Rhacophorus sensu stricto by lacking dermal folds along limbs and tarsal projections. [1]

Foam nest of Zhangixalus arboreus from Japan. Rhacophorus arboreus Eggs in Mount Ryu 2011-09-29.jpg
Foam nest of Zhangixalus arboreus from Japan.

Species

There are 43 recognized species: [2]

The AmphibiaWeb recognizes the same species except Zhangixalus amamiensis, which is treated as being part of Zhangixalus viridis. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhacophoridae</span> Family of amphibians

The Rhacophoridae are a family of frogs that occur in tropical sub-Saharan Africa, South India and Sri Lanka, Japan, northeastern India to eastern China and Taiwan, south through the Philippines and Greater Sundas, and Sulawesi. They are commonly known as shrub frogs, or more ambiguously as "moss frogs" or "bush frogs". Some Rhacophoridae are called "tree frogs". Among the most spectacular members of this family are numerous "flying frogs".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhacophorinae</span> Subfamily of amphibians

The Rhacophorinae are a subfamily of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae. They range from tropical Africa and Asia to temperate China and Japan.

<i>Theloderma</i> Genus of amphibians

Theloderma, the bug-eyed frogs, mossy frogs or warty frogs, is a genus of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae, subfamily Rhacophorinae. They are found from northeastern India and southern China, through Southeast Asia, to the Greater Sunda Islands; the highest species richness is in Indochina. Some species, especially T. corticale, are sometimes kept in captivity.

<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>Amolops</i> Genus of amphibians

Amolops is a genus of true frogs native mainly to eastern and south-eastern Asia. These frogs are closely related to such genera as Huia, Meristogenys, Odorrana, Pelophylax and Rana, but still form a distinct lineage among the core radiation of true frogs. They are commonly known as "torrent frogs" after their favorite habitat - small rapid-flowing mountain and hill streams - but this name is used for many similar-looking frogs regardless of whether they are loosely related.

<i>Zhangixalus arvalis</i> Species of frog

Zhangixalus arvalis is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to western and southwestern Taiwan and is present in agricultural areas of Chiayi, Yunlin, and Tainan Counties. Common name farmland green treefrog has been coined for it.

<i>Zhangixalus aurantiventris</i> Species of frog

Zhangixalus aurantiventris is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Taiwan. It is known from scattered localities across Taiwan at low to mid altitudes.

<i>Zhangixalus moltrechti</i> Species of amphibian

Zhangixalus moltrechti is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Taiwan, where it has a wide distribution in hilly areas. Common names Moltrecht's green treefrog, Moltrecht's treefrog, Taiwan treefrog, and Nantou flying frog have been coined for it.

<i>Zhangixalus prasinatus</i> Species of amphibian

Zhangixalus prasinatus is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae endemic to northern Taiwan. It has been observed between 400 and 600 meters above sea level.

<i>Gracixalus</i> Genus of amphibians

Gracixalus is a genus of shrub frogs from south-eastern Asia.

<i>Liuixalus</i> Genus of amphibians

Liuixalus is a small genus of rhacophorid frogs that are distributed in southern China. Some species now in Liuixalus were originally placed in Philautus. It is thought to be the most basal genus in the Rhacophorinae.

Zhangixalus jodiae, also known as Jodi's treefrog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is named in honour of Jodi Rowley, Australian herpetologist, for her "great contribution to amphibian taxonomy in Asia". Zhangixalus jodiae is endemic to northeastern Vietnam and is only known from the vicinity of its type locality in Quản Bạ District, Hà Giang Province. It belongs to a clade of Zhangixalus inhabiting karst forests of southern China and northern Vietnam.

<i>Boulenophrys</i> Genus of amphibians

Boulenophrys is a genus of frogs in the family Megophryidae. They occur in the China, Mainland Southeast Asia and Northeast India. It had been placed variously as a subgenus or synonymy of Megophrys. Dubois, Ohler and Pyron first recognized that Panophrys is preoccupied and employed Boulenophrys as the generic name rather than Tianophrys under the Principle of First Revisor.

Zhangixalus franki, or Frank's tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It has been reported in China, in Yunnan Province, and in northern Vietnam, between 1320 and 1360 m above sea level.

Zhangixalus wui, the Lichuan tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to China. Scientists know it exclusively from the type locality: Hanchi Village in Hubei Province. It has been observed between 1550 and 1840 meters above sea level.

Zhangixalus hongchibaensis, the Wuxi tree frog, is a frog in the family Rhacophoridae. Scientists know it from the type locality: Hongchiba in Wuxi County, Chongqing Province, China. It has been observed 1747 meters above sea level.

Zhangixalus lishuiensis is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. Scientists know it exclusively from the type locality: Fengyang Forest Station in Zhejiang Province, China. It has been observed 1100 meters above sea level.

Rhacophorus vanbanicus, the Van Ban treefrog, is a frog. It is endemic to Vietnam. Scientists know it exclusively from the type locality, 900 meters above sea level in the Van Ban District. It is suspected in China's Yunnan Province.

Rhacophorus hoabinhensis, the Hoa Binh tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Vietnam. Scientists know it exclusively from the type locality: Hang Kia–Pa Co Nature Reserve, 1350 meters above sea level.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jiang, Dechun; Jiang, Ke; Ren, Jinlong; Wu, Jun & Li, Jiatang (2019). "Resurrection of the genus Leptomantis, with description of a new genus to the family Rhacophoridae (Amphibia: Anura)". Asian Herpetological Research. 10 (1): 1–12. doi:10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.180058. ProQuest   2388308652.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Frost, Darrel R. (2021). "Zhangixalus Li, Jiang, Ren, and Jiang, 2019". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001 . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Rhacophoridae". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Frost, Darrel R. (2021). "Rhacophorinae Hoffman, 1932 (1858)". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001 . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  5. Tao Thien Nguyen, Huy Hoang Nguyen, Hoa Thi Ninh, Linh Tu Hoang Le, Hai Tuan Bui, Nikolai Orlov, Chung Van Hoang and Thomas Ziegler. 2024. Zhangixalus thaoae sp. nov., A New green treefrog Species from Vietnam (Anura, Rhacophoridae). ZooKeys. 1197: 93-113. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1197.104851
  6. Yuanqiang Pan, Mian Hou, Guohua Yu, Shuo Liu. 2024. A New Species of Zhangixalus (Anura, Rhacophoridae) from Yunnan, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 100(1): 183-197. DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.113850