2012. RHINELLA MARINA (Cane Toad). PREDATION

Herpetological Review

The natural history of newly discovered species among the genus Tylototriton in SouthEastern Asia is poorly known to date, and most of the species are threatened by extinction. The description of their ecology is crucial to determine their survival status and successful reproduction for conservation purposes. In this study, we assessed the microhabitat preferences of Tylototriton yangi at the type locality, Gejiu, Yunnan province, China, with the Visual Encounter Survey method and by using new important materials. The main habitat is located within a humid subtropical climate and is composed of a large karstic mountain containing some patch of secondary mixed forests and plantations such as tomato fields, pepper and cabbage that are surrounded by scrubs, grasses and small ponds. We provided a complete diagnosis with new morphological data analysing ten adult individuals from the type series to establish a formal description which is absent from the first original description. We compared our results with other related taxa of the genus Tylototriton to updated key determinants between similar species. Thus, we analysed the population structure and the behaviour of T. yangi during a period of ten years, 2008–2017, to assess its survival status and to determine the main threat factors. A total of 186 specimens were found during the whole study predicting a small population inhabiting the type locality, Gejiu. Consequently, T. yangi is now regarded as a highly threatened species that need more attention of Chinese authorities and we suggest regarding it as Endangered due to its small distribution range, the low number of adult specimens observed and ongoing exploitation.

2011

Comptes Rendus Biologies, 2006

Morphological, morphometrical and molecular data support the existence of two sibling species in the taxon previously known as Rhacophorus reinwardtii. The two species can be distinguished by the coloration pattern of webbing, the size of adult specimens and the relative size of various morphometric characters. This long and commonly known taxon should be separated into two species. As a consequence, the conservation status of the new species Rhacophorus kio n. sp. as well as of the redefined species Rhacophorus reinwardtii must be re-evaluated and, considering the new distribution data and the particular ecological demands, both species should be considered as 'endangered'. To cite this article: A. Ohler, M. Delorme, C. R. Biologies 329 (2006).  2005 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Zootaxa, 2014

We report on a small collection of parachuting frogs from Sumatra and Java. Three new species are described. Rhacophorus achantharrhena is similar to R. dulitensis and R. prominanus and differs from these species by a suite of characters including morphology of the supratympanic fold, digital webbing, coloration, and morphometrics. These three species are unusual in having white visceral and parietal peritonea. Rhacophorus catamitus is a small species similar to R. angulirostris and differing from this species by having a calcar at the heel and reduced digital webbing. Rhacophorus barisani resembles R. baluensis but differs from this species in color pattern, habitus, webbing of the fingers, and morphology of the dermal appendages. A new specimen of Sumatran R. pardalis is described and compared to the holotype of R. pulchellus. Rhacophorus prominanus is reported from Gunung Rajabasa, Lampung. Two specimens are described and compared to Bornean R. dulitensis and R. prominanus from the Malay Peninsula. Rhacophorus tunkui Kiew is a junior subjective synonym of Rhacophorus prominanus Smith. Finally, we describe new specimens of Rhacophorus margaritifer from Cibodas, Java. Skeletons of the new species and of R. margaritifer are described in detail. Superficial jaw and throat musculature appears to be relatively conservative within the genus.

Herpetology Notes, 2014

We describe a new species of Rhacophorus from lowland forests in southern Vietnam. The new species is most similar to Rhacophorus kio, but differs from this and all other Rhacophorus from Southeast Asia by a combination of its large body size (males 72.3–85.5mm; females 89.4–90.7 mm snout–vent length); green dorsum; white venter; black patch at axilla; bluish-green posterior surface of thighs with pale yellow marbling; low, single-lobed supracoloacal dermal ridge, and white sclera. In contrast to the widely distributed R. kio, the new species is known only from two fragments of disturbed, low-elevation forest approximately 30 km apart in a highly modified agricultural landscape. The continued survival of the new species is threatened by ongoing habitat loss and degradation.

Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2015