Rhacophorus kio, Flying Frog

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 : 228

Kio Flying Frog ( Fig. 5E)

One individual of R. kio was observed by P. Brakels and N. Maury on 10 August 2019 in Bortaen District site 2, Xaignabouli Province (17°47.338’N, 101°04.359’E; elevation 475 m asl) .

Morphological characters of the individual from Xaignabouli agreed well with the descriptions of Ohler et al. (2006) and Fei et al. (2010). The photographed individual ( Fig. 5E) agrees with the diagnosis of R. kio in the following characters: large body size, rather slender body habitus; snout pointed, not protruding; pupil horizontal, rounded; canthus rostralis rounded; loreal region slightly convex; tympanum round; supratympanic fold distinct; tips of fingers and toes enlarged into round discs; toes and finger webbing complete; dermal folds along limbs well-developed; supracloacal fold and tarsal projections present; dorsal surfaces smooth; ventral surface granular; coloration of dorsum green with white dots, a large black spot at the axilla, ventral surface yellow, posterior surfaces of thighs yellowish-orange, webbing orange with an ink black spot at base; iris golden with yellow sclera.

Ecological notes. The individual was found at ca. 2100 h in the dense vegetation along the edge of the road above the river. The surrounding habitat was disturbed secondary dry evergreen hill forest.

Distribution. In Laos, this species has been previously recorded from Phongsali, Bokeo, Louangphabang, Houaphan, Vientiane, Khammouan, and Xekong provinces ( Ohler and Grosjean 2006; Ohler et al. 2006; Rowley et al. 2012; Teynié et al. 2014). This is the first record from Xaignabouli Province. Elsewhere, this species has been reported from India, China, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand ( Frost 2020).