Leptomantis cyanopunctatus ( Manthey & Steiof, 1998 )

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, Zootaxa 5287 (1), pp. 1-378 : 57-58

Leptomantis cyanopunctatus ( Manthey & Steiof, 1998) — Native.

Rhacophorus cyanopunctatus Manthey & Steiof, 1998: 37 . Holotype: ZMB 57895, by original designation. Type locality: “şdlichen Rand des Khao Sok National Parks (ca. 200 m ̧ NN), Provinz Surat Thani, Distrikt Phanom, Thailand”.

Blue-spotted Bush Frog

( Figure 7C )

Singapore records.

Philautus bimaculatus (non Peters, 1867)— Inger, 1966: 344–346.

Rhacophorus bimaculatus (non Peters, 1867)—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 57.—K.K.P. Lim & C.M. Yang, 1991: 228 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 144.—P.K.L. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 1992: 260 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 93.—R. Subaraj et al., 1995: 5 (Lorong Banir Stream [NSSF]).—Inger, 1996: 567.—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 400 (Nee Soon East [NSSF]).—Chan-ard et al., 1999: 19.—T.M. Leong, 2000: 6.

Rhacophorus cyanopunctatus Manthey & Steiof, 1998: 40 .—K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 2002: 144.—K.K.P. Lim & T.M. Leong, 2008: 158, 264.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 61, 159.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 487.—T.M. Leong, 2011: 22.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 61, 159.—N. Baker, 2013a: 20 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—K.Y. Chong et al., 2013: 289.—E.K. Chua, 2015: 8.— Dehling, 2015: 10.

Remarks. Known from three fewer specimens than Theloderma horridum , L. cyanopunctatus is Singapore’s rarest frog. It was first discovered in Singapore when Inger (1966) first documented its presence based on specimen FMNH 100964. Hendrickson was believed to have collected the specimen between the 1950s and 1960s at NSSF ( Lim & Yang 1991), but examination of the specimen reveals that it was collected by Davis on 23 January 1959. Leptomantis cyanopunctatus was not recorded again in Singapore until 35 years later ( Table 2 ) on 30 August 1994 when one was photographed at the edge of NSSF (Subaraj et al. 1995; Teo & Rajathurai 1997). A photograph of this individual was published in Baker & Lim (2008). After this observation, we know of only four additional sightings of L. cyanopunctatus : one from NSSF on 23 December 2009 ( Fig. 7C ); two other individuals seen on 29 December 2009 and 21 December 2010 at NSSF (N. Baker pers. comm.), and; the one featured in Baker & Lim (2012) photographed at NSSF on 20 November 2010. Previously a member of Rhacophorus, Jiang et al. (2019) moved L. cyanopunctatus , along with 14 other species to Leptomantis . Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis by Chan et al. (2018) demonstrated deep divergence between Peninsular Malaysia and Bornean populations suggesting two different species; however, no taxonomic changes were made.

Occurrence. Restricted, only known from six records at NSSF. Rare.

Singapore conservation status. Critically Endangered.

Conservation priority. Highest.

IUCN conservation status. Least Concern [2022].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. No specimens.

Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): FMNH.

Singapore localities. Nee Soon Swamp Forest.

Genus Nyctixalus Boulenger, 1882 (1 species)

Nyctixalus Boulenger, 1882b: 35 (type species: Nyctixalus margaritifer Boulenger, 1882 , by monotypy; gender masculine).

Figures

FIGURE 7. A) Pulchrana laterimaculata, B) Sylvirana guentheri, C) Leptomantis cyanopunctatus, D) Nyctixalus pictus, E) Polypedates leucomystax, F) Theloderma horridum, G) Crocodylus porosus, and H) Caretta caretta. Photographs by: Alex Figueroa [A–B, D–F], Marcus A.H. Chua [C], Jensen G.H. Seah [G], and Kelvin K.P. Lim [H].