Leptobrachium smithi Matsui, Nabhitabhata, and Panha, 1999

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 : 223

Leptobrachium smithi Matsui, Nabhitabhata, and Panha, 1999

Smith’s Spadefoot Toad ( Fig. 3F )

Two individuals of L. smithi were observed by P. Brakels and N. Maury on 25 August 2019 in Xay District , Oudomxai Province (20°39.598’N, 102°04.241’E; elevation 850 m asl) .

Morphological characters of the individuals from Oudomxai Province agreed well with the descriptions of Matsui et al. (1999) and Pawangkhanant et al. (2018). The photographed individual ( Fig. 3F ) agrees with the diagnosis of L. smithi in the following characters: medium body size; snout obtusely pointed, barely projecting beyond lower jaw; canthus rostralis distinct, sharp; loreal region slightly concave; eye large, projecting from sides of head; tympanum round, distinct; supratympanic fold present; tips of fingers and toes rounded and slightly swollen; dorsal surface nearly smooth, with minute granules scattered behind; ventral surfaces weakly granular; dorsal coloration gray brown with distinct dark markings; tympanum covered with dark markings; bicolored iris (black bellow and bright yellow above).

Ecological notes. The individuals were found at ca. 2200 h on the leaf litter along the side of a road in a mountain valley. The surrounding habitat was moist evergreen forest including parts of riverine forest.

Distribution. In Laos, this species has been previously recorded from Louangphabang, Vientiane, and Xaignabouli provinces ( Pawangkhanant et al. 2018). This is the first record from Oudomxai Province. Elsewhere, this species has been reported from Myanmar, Thailand, and peninsular Malaysia ( Frost 2020).

Figures

Fig. 3. (A) Nanorana aenea in Mork District, Xiangkhouang Province; (B) dorsal view and (C) ventral view of Quasipaa verrucospinosa in Longcheng District, Xaisomboun Province; (D) dorsal view and (E) ventral view of Leptobrachella eos in Bortaen District, Xaignabouli Province; (F) Leptobrachium smithi in Xay District, Oudomxai Province. Photos: P. Brakels (A–B, D, F) and N. Maury (C, E).