Abstract
A new species of rhacophorid of the genus Rhacophorus is described from Gunung Gading National Park, Sarawak, western Borneo. Rhacophorus gadingensis, new species, is compared with congeners from Borneo and other parts of southeast Asia. The new species is diagnosable in showing the following combination of characters: SVL 29.5 mm in the larger of the two specimens known; snout obtuse, slightly projecting beyond mandible; head wider than long; fingers and toes webbed; lacking nuptial pads (in males) and a dermal flap along forearm; a weak supracloacal fold; spinose calcar present; skin not co-ossified to forehead, median lingual process absent; supratympanic fold weak; dorsum brown, with a dark interorbital bar; dark brown blotches on dorsum and flanks with blue blotches.
KEY WORDS. – Rhacophorus, new species, Rhacophorus gadingensis, Rhacophoridae, systematics, Borneo.
Etymology. – The new species is named for Gunung Gading, the type locality of the new species.
Ecological notes. – The holotype and paratype were found on vegetation, ca. 3 m and 1 m, respectively, overhanging granite boulders at the edge of a torrential forest stream, > 8 m in width. They were collected ca. 0200-0230 h. The call and larval stages of the new species remain unknown.
The following species of frogs were found sympatric with the new species: Chaperina fusca, Limnonectes laticeps, L. leporinus, L. kuhlii, Meristogenys poecilus, Rana hosii, R. picturata, R. raniceps, Staurois guttatus, Nyctixalus pictus, Philautus tectus, Polypedates colletti, Rhacophorus appendiculatus, R. pardalis, Rhacophorus kajau, Leptolalax hamidi, Megophrys nasuta and Ansonia spinulifer.
Das, I. and Haas, A. 2005. A new species of Rhacophorus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Gunung Gading, Sarawak. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 53(2): 101-107.
