Three New Indochinese Species of Cascade Frogs (Amphibia: Ranidae) Allied to Rana archotaphus

• Published in: Copeia no. 1; p. 43
• Main Authors: Bain, Raoul H, Stuart, Bryan L, Orlov, Nikolai L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 01.03.2006
• Subjects: Frogs; Taxonomy; Wildlife conservation
• ISSN: 2766-1512; 2766-1520
• DOI: 10.1643/0045-8511(2006)006[0043:TNISOC]2.0.CO;2

Three new frog species allied to Rana archotaphus are described from Laos and Vietnam. One new species from the Hoang Lien Mountains of northwestern Vietnam is characterized by having females with snout-vent length 66-68 mm, no visible pineal body, the first finger shorter than second, width of third finger disc about equal to tympanum diameter, and tympanum of males relatively larger than females. The second new species from northern Laos is characterized by having males with snout-vent length 38-44 mm, no visible pineal body, first finger shorter than second, width of third finger disc equal to the tympanum diameter, venter with very light or no spotting, and venter translucent. The third new species from the Northern Truong Son (Annamite Highlands) of Laos and the Kon Tum Plateau of Vietnam is characterized by having females with snout-vent length 56-57 mm, a visible pineal body, tympanum of males relatively equal to females, the first finger shorter than second, and males with width of third finger disc about half the tympanum diameter. Descriptions are expanded of several species that resemble the two new species: Rana archotaphus, R. daorum, R. iriodes, and Amolops chunganensis. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]