Rhacophorus rhodopus Liu and Hu, 1960

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 : 229

Rhacophorus rhodopus Liu and Hu, 1960 Red-webbbed Treefrog ( Fig. 5F )

Several individuals of R. rhodophus were observed by P. Brakels, P. Pawangkhanant, T. V. Nguyen, S. Idiiatullina, and N.A. Poyarkov on 16 July 2019 on the northern slope of Phou Samsoum mountain, Mork District, Xiangkhouang Province (19°08.494’N, 103°46.867’E; elevation 2,050 m asl) and one individual was observed by P. Brakels and N. Maury on 26 October 2019 along the fringes of Dong Hua Sao NPA in Paksong (2) District , Champasak Province (15°03’53.1”N, 106°12’44.6”E; elevation 1,250 m asl) .

Morphological characters of the individuals from Xiangkhouang and Champasak provinces agreed well with the descriptions of Bordoloi et al. (2007) and Fei et al. (2010). The photographed individual ( Fig. 5F ) agrees with the diagnosis of R. rhodopus in the following characters: body medium-sized with rather slender habitus; snout pointed, not protruding; pupil rounded and horizontal; canthus rostralis rounded, loreal region slightly convex; tympanum round; supratympanic fold distinct; tips of fingers and toes enlarged into round discs; finger webbing reduced; dermal folds along limbs developed; supracloacal fold and tarsal projections present; dorsal surfaces smooth; ventral surface granular; coloration of dorsum orange-brown, with small dark spots, a large bluish-black spot on flank; ventral surfaces yellow, webbing reddish with an ink black spot at base; iris golden.

Ecological notes. The individuals were found at ca. 1900–2200 h when calling along the road in vegetation about a height of ca. 1–3 m; surrounding habitat was montane broadleaved forest. The individual from Champasak Province was found in the vegetation at a height of ca. 1–2 m along a large fast flowing stream; surrounding habitat was moist montane evergreen forest.

Distribution. In Laos, this species has been previously recorded from Phongsali and Louangphabang provinces ( Bordoloi et al. 2007). This is the first record from Xiangkhouang and Champasak provinces. Elsewhere, this species has been reported from India, China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and peninsular Malaysia ( Frost 2020).

Figures

Fig. 5. (A) Chirixalus doriae in Xay District, Oudomxai Province; (B) C. nongkhorensis in Khounkham District, Khammouan Province; (C) Gracixalus quangi in Longcheng District, Xaisomboun Province; (D) G. quyeti in Khounkham District, Khammouan Province; (E) Rhacophorus kio in Bortaen District, Xaignabouli Province; (F) R. rhodopus in Mork District, Xiangkhouang Province. Photos by P. Brakels.