Zhangixalus feae (Boulenger, 1893)

Nguyen, Tan Van, Brakels, Peter, Maury, Nathanael, Sudavanh, Somchit, Pawangkhanant, Parinya, Idiiatullina, Sabira, Lorphengsy, Sengvilay, Inkhavilay, Khamla, Suwannapoom, Chatmongkon & Poyarkov, Nikolay A., 2020, New herpetofaunal observations from Laos based on photo records, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 248) 14 (2), pp. 218-249 : 231

Zhangixalus feae (Boulenger, 1893)

Fea’s Large Treefrog ( Fig. 6F)

One subadult individual of Z. feae was observed by P. Brakels and N. Maury on 24 August 2019 in Xay District , Oudomxai Province (20°39.598’N, 102°04.241’E; elevation 1,150 m asl) . Two adult individuals were observed by P. Brakels on 9 November 2019 in Phoukhoun District , Louangphabang Province (19°18.897’N, 102°30.883’E; elevation 1,350 m asl) .

Morphological characters of the individual from Oudomxai Province agreed well with the description of Fei et al. (2010). The photographed individual ( Fig. 6F) agrees with the diagnosis of Z. feae in the following characters: large body size; snout rounded, not protruding; pupil oval and horizontal; canthus rostralis distinct; loreal region concave; tympanum round; supratympanic fold distinct; tips of fingers and toes enlarged into round discs; toe and finger webbing complete; dermal folds along limbs, supracloacal fold and tarsal projections absent; dorsal surfaces smooth; ventral surfaces granular; coloration of dorsum green with some irregular yellow spots; ventral surface cream; iris emerald-green.

Ecological notes. The individual at Oudomxai Province was found at ca. 2200 h in dense vegetation near the stream, surrounding habitat was mixed mature evergreen forest. The individuals from Louangphabang Province were found at ca. 1530 h in vegetation overhanging a small stream which originated from a spring nearby, surrounding habitat was open pastures and rice paddies with a mosaic of disturbed secondary montane mixed evergreen forest.

Distribution. In Laos, this species has been previously recorded from Phongsali Province ( Stuart 2005). This is the second confirmed record from the country as well as the first from Oudomxai and Louangphabang Provinces. Elsewhere, this species has been reported from China, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand ( Frost 2020).