Tuesday, November 6, 2012

[Herpetology • 2010] Rhacophorus vampyrus | Vampire Flying Frog • A new tree frog of the genus Rhacophorus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from southern Vietnam


[in Pic: in life diurnal colouration (on white background): adult male holotype & female paratype; adult male, non-vouchered specimen, in situ with nocturnal colouration, and adult male diurnal colouration (note modified skin under angles of jaw over paired subgular vocal sac)]

Rhacophorus vampyrus, Vampire Flying Frog
a Flying Frog inhabit a single, high-elevation patch of montane forest in Southern Vietnam, where it breeds in small, water-filled holes in trees.

Abstract
We describe a new species of rhacophorid frog from the Langbian Plateau in southern Vietnam. Rhacophorus vampyrus sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of: a pale tan to brick red dorsum; white throat, chest and belly; black flanks and anterior and posterior surface of thighs; grey to black webbing between fingers and toes; reduced finger webbing; and pointed projection at tibiotarsal articulation. At present, the new species is known from montane evergreen forest between 1470–2004 m elevation. Rhacophorus vampyrus sp. nov. is a phytotelm breeder, depositing eggs in foam nests in small tree-holes.

Key words: Anura, Rhacophoridae, Southeast Asia, Vietnam


ปาดแวมไพร์
• ปาดชนิดใหม่จากป่าเมฆ (ที่ราบสูง Langbian) ทางตอนใต้ของเวียดนาม
• ทำรังโฟมเพื่อวางไข่ในโพรงต้นไม้ (phytotelm breeder)
• ชื่อปาดแวมไพร์ (Vampire Flying Frog, P. vampyrus) ได้จากลักษณะของลูกอ๊อดที่มีฟันคล้าย เขี้ยว 2 คู่ที่ใต้ริมฝีปากบน


 Rowley, J.J.L., Le, T.T.D., Tran, T.A.D., Stuart, B.L., & Hoang, D.H. 2010. A new tree frog of the genus Rhacophorus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from southern Vietnam. Zootaxa. 2727: 45–55. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/f/zt02727p055.pdf