[Herpetology • 2017] Cnemaspis lineogularis, C. thachanaensis & C. phangngaensis • Three New Karst-dwelling Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata; Gekkoniade) from Peninsular Thailand and the Phylogenetic Placement of C. punctatonuchalis and C. vandeventeri

Cnemaspis lineogularis, C. thachanaensis & C. phangngaensis

Wood​, Grismer, Aowphol, Aguilar, Cota, Grismer, Murdoch & Sites, 2017   

 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2884 

Abstract

Three new species of Rock Geckos Cnemaspis lineogularis sp. nov., C. phangngaensis sp. nov., and C. thachanaensis sp. nov. of the chanthaburiensis and siamensis groups are described from the Thai portion of the Thai-Malay Peninsula. These new species are distinguished from all other species in their two respective groups based on a unique combination of morphological characteristics, which is further supported by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene (ND2). Cnemaspis lineogularis sp. nov. is differentiated from all other species in the chanthaburiensis group by having a smaller maximum SVL 38 mm, 13 paravertebral tubercles, enlarged femoral scales, no caudal bands, and a 19.5–23.0% pairwise sequence divergence (ND2). Cnemaspis phangngaensis sp. nov. is differentiated from all other species in the siamensis group by having the unique combination of 10 infralabial scales, four continuous pore-bearing precloacal scales, paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged, lacking tubercles on the lower flanks, having ventrolateral caudal tubercles anteriorly present, caudal tubercles restricted to a single paraveterbral row on each side, a single median row of keeled subcaudals, and a 8.8–25.2% pairwise sequence divergence (ND2). Cnemaspis thachanaensis sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species in the siamensis group by having 10 or 11 supralabial scales 9–11 infralabial scales, paravertebral tubercles linearly arranged, ventrolateral caudal tubercles anteriorly, caudal tubercles restricted to a single paravertebral row on each side, a single median row of keeled subcaudal scales, lacking a single enlarged subcaudal scale row, lacking postcloaclal tubercles in males, the presence of an enlarged submetatarsal scale at the base if the 1st toe, and a 13.4–28.8% pairwise sequence divergence (ND2). The new phylogenetic analyses place C. punctatonuchalis and C. vandeventeri in the siamensis group with C. punctatonuchalis as the sister species to C. huaseesom and C. vandeventeri as the sister species to C. siamensis, corroborating previous hypotheses based on morphology. The discovery of three new karst-dwelling endemics brings the total number of nominal Thai Cnemaspis species to 15 and underscores the need for continued field research in poorly known areas of the Thai-Malay Peninsula, especially those that are threatened and often overlooked as biodiversity hot spots.

• จิ้งจกนิ้วยาวคอลาย  Cnemaspis lineogularis 

• จิ้งจกนิ้วยาวท่าชนะ Cnemaspis thachanaensis 

• จิ้งจกนิ้วยาวพังงา  Cnemaspis phangngaensis

Wood​, Grismer, Aowphol, Aguilar, Cota, Grismer, Murdoch & Sites, 2017

 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2884

  

Perry Lee Wood Jr​, L. Lee Grismer, Anchalee Aowphol, César A. Aguilar, Micheal Cota, Marta S. Grismer, Matthew L. Murdoch and Jack W. Sites Jr. 2017.  Three New Karst-dwelling Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Squamata; Gekkoniade) from Peninsular Thailand and the Phylogenetic Placement of C. punctatonuchalis and C. vandeventeri.
PeerJ. 5:e2884, DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2884

[Herpetology • 2016] Out of Borneo, Again and Again: Biogeography of the Stream Toad Genus Ansonia Stoliczka (Anura: Bufonidae) and the Discovery of the First Limestone Cave-dwelling Species, Ansonia khaochangensis, from southern Thailand

 Ansonia khaochangensis  

Grismer, Wood, Aowphol, Cota, Grismer, Murdoch, Aguilar & Grismer, 2016 

Cave-dwelling Stream-Toad | คางคกห้วยถ้ำ(เขาช้าง)พังงา 
 DOI:  10.1111/bij.12886 

Abstract

Subsequent to the Miocene (approximately 35 Mya), Borneo has served as an insular refuge and a source of colonization for a broad range of species emigrating to others parts of Sundaland. A phylogeny-based historical biogeographical hypothesis for the Stream Toad genus Ansonia supports multiple instances of an out-of-Borneo scenario. An ancestral range estimation indicates that in situ speciation of Ansonia on the island of Borneo during the Late Miocene and Pliocene (approximately 2–13 Mya) eventually resulted in an invasion of the Philippines, Sumatra, and two independent invasions of the Thai-Malay Peninsula. When collecting material for the biogeographical analysis, a new species of Ansonia, Ansonia khaochangensis sp. nov. was discovered in a limestone cave from the Khao Chang karst tower in Phangnga Province, in southern Thailand. Ansonia khaochangensis sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other species of Ansonia by having a unique combination of morphological and colour pattern characteristics. Phylogenetic evidence based on the mitochondrial genes 12S and 16S indicates that it is nested within a clade of other species distributed north of the Isthmus of Kra. The cave lifestyle of this new species is a unique and a significant departure from lotic environments common to most other species of Ansonia. The reproductive biology of this species is unknown.

Ansonia khaochangensis sp. nov.

Cave-dwelling Stream-Toad

Diagnosis. Ansonia khaochangensis sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other species of Ansonia by the combination of the following characters: maximum SVL of 35.5 mm (34.0–35.3 mm) for females and 32.0 mm (31.9–32.0 mm) for males; snout projecting beyond lower jaw; tympanum visible; vocal sac opening on right; no white or yellow tubercle at rictus; no tuberculate, interorbital ridges; finger and toe tips rounded, bulbous but not forming discs; first finger not reaching disc of second; webbing formula on foot I 1, II ½–2, III 1½–2, IV 2–2, V 1; tarsal ridge present; inner and outer metatarsal tubercles present; submandibular tubercles absent; dorsal tubercles present but small, low, and rounded; no dorsolateral row of enlarged tubercles on sides or back; no oblique flap of skin on either side of vent; abdomen and gular region coarsely granular; iris black; no light spots on the gular region or abdomen; no suborbital or postorbital white markings; no light interscapular spot; no light crossbars on hind limbs, no light vertebral stripe. These character states are scored across all species of Ansonia in Table 4.

 

Distribution. Ansonia khaochangensis sp. nov. is known only from the type locality at Takua Pa District, Phang Nga Province, southern Thailand (Fig. 1).

Natural history. Ansonia khaochangensis sp. nov. is only known from the Khao Chang tower karst formation that rises precipitously to an elevation of 125 m and frames the northwest border of the city of Phang Nga (Fig. 6). Along the southeast face of the karst formation is the massive Phung Chang Cave that has a subterranean water system that runs beneath the karst tower. This southeast face is also riddled with several smaller caves. Approximately 0.5 km southwest of the mouth of Phung Chang Cave is a very small opening at the base of the karst tower that winds its way inward for approximately 20 m wherein we found A. khaochangensis sp. nov. (Fig. 6). During the day, specimens were found only within the recesses of the cave on the vertical cave walls as high as 3 m above the cave floor. To escape, toads were able to move sideways up the cave walls in an attempt to wedge themselves into narrow cracks near the celling. Toads were also observed in the cave at night but would venture out to climb on the outside of the karst tower. Some specimens were found as high as 10 m above the forest floor both on the karst and sitting on the leaves of small plants growing out of the karst. The distinctive, virtually monochromatic, brown coloration of this species appears to be a result of substrate matching in that frogs are reasonably well-camouflaged on the limestone substrate. We interpret this as an indication that this microhabitat is not something that is occasionally utilized and that this genus, which has a lotic life style elsewhere, has adapted to this microhabitat over a long period of time in that it split off from its sister lineage approximately 5.5 Mya (Fig. 3).

The reproductive biology of this species is completely unknown. Most other Ansonia require fast-moving lotic systems and all require water for tadpole development. We assume that there are other sources of underground water that these toads must be using for reproduction because there are no above-ground systems nearby that we could find. Fieldwork is currently being planned to investigate this species’ presumably unique reproductive biology.

Etymology. The specific epithet khaochangensis is in reference to the type locality of this species in the Khao Chang tower karst formation.

L. Lee Grismer, Perry L. Wood Jr, Anchalee Aowphol, Michael Cota, Marta S. Grismer, Matthew L. Murdoch, Cesar Aguilar and Jesse L. Grismer. 2016. Out of Borneo, Again and Again: Biogeography of the Stream Toad Genus Ansonia Stoliczka (Anura: Bufonidae) and the Discovery of the First Limestone Cave-dwelling Species.
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.  DOI:  10.1111/bij.12886 

[Herpetology • 2015] Description of the Tadpoles of Two Endemic Frogs: the Phu Luang Cascade Frog Odorrana aureola (Anura: Ranidae) and the Isan Big-headed Frog Limnonectes isanensis (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from northeastern Thailand

Phu Luang Cascade Frog Odorrana aureola

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3981.4.3 
ResearchGate.net/publication/279861975

Abstract

We describe the external morphology of the tadpoles of two frogs endemic to Thailand: the Phu Luang cascade frog (Odorrana aureola) and the Isan big-headed frog (Limnonectes isanensis) from the type localities in the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, Loei Province, northeastern Thailand. Morphological and genetic characters (16S rRNA) were used to identify specimen and match tadpoles to the adults. Detailed descriptions of external morphology and coloration in life are provided for both species. We provide a brief discussion of the ecology of these tadpoles and a comparison to previously published data from tadpoles of closely related taxa. Additionally, we provide evidence for the utility of larval morphology in resolving the taxonomic puzzles presented by cryptic species complexes.

Keywords: Amphibia, amphibian, biodiversity, conservation, morphology, mitochondrial DNA, species complex

Ampai, Natee, Attapol Rujirawan, Jirachai Arkajag, David S. Mcleod & Anchalee Aowphol. 2015. Description of the Tadpoles of Two Endemic Frogs: the Phu Luang Cascade Frog Odorrana aureola (Anura: Ranidae) and the Isan Big-headed Frog Limnonectes isanensis (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from northeastern Thailand. Zootaxa. 3981(4): 508–520. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3981.4.3

ResearchGate.net/publication/279861975_Description_of_the_tadpoles_of_two_endemic_frogs_the_Phu_Luang_cascade_frog_Odorrana_aureola_Anura_Ranidae_and_the_Isan_big-headed_frog_Limnonectes_isanensis_Anura_Dicroglossidae_from_northeastern_Thailand

[Herpetology • 2016] Taxonomy, Phylogeny, and Distribution of Bronchocela rayaensis (Squamata: Agamidae) on the Thai-Malay Peninsula

Bronchocela rayaensis 
(ZMKU R 00717)  from the Khatu Waterfall, Phuket Island, Thailand

photos by L.L. Grismer   DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4092.3.6  

Abstract

An integrative taxonomic analysis used to identify a new population of Bronchocela from Phuket Island, Thailand indicates it is conspecific with Bronchocela rayaensis from the Langkawi Archipelago of northwestern Peninsular Malaysia. An additional specimen photographed from Khura Buri District, Phang-nga Province is also considered to be B. rayaensis and represents a northern range extension of 295 km from the Langkawi Archipelago.

Keywords: Reptilia, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Systematics, Bronchocela

L. Lee Grismer, Perry L. Jr. Wood, Anchalee Aowphol, Michael Cota, Matthew Murdoch, César Aguilar and Marta Grismer. 2016. Taxonomy, Phylogeny, and Distribution of Bronchocela rayaensis (Squamata: Agamidae) on the Thai-Malay Peninsula.
 Zootaxa.  4092(3); 414–420.   DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4092.3.6  

[Herpetology • 2015] Ecology and Natural History of the Knobby Newt Tylototriton podichthys (Caudata: Salamandridae) in Laos

Fig. 6. Life stages of Tylototriton podichthys at the study site. A, Eggs under grass in June; B, eggs on leaf litter in July, C, larvae at bottom of stream pool in October, D, eft emerging onto land, found under a log 30 cm from the stream water on 10 December 2012, E, dorsal view; and F, ventral view of an eft that has begun to resemble an adult newt.
Fig. 2. Sexual dimorphism of Tylototriton podichthys at the study site. A, Dorsal view of adult female; B, dorsal view of adult male;

Phimmachak, Stuart & Aowphol, 2015 || LKCNHM.nus.edu.sg

Abstract

 Almost nothing is known on the ecology and natural history of Tylototriton (Knobby Newts) in Laos. Here, a population of the newly described T. podichthys was intensively studied in a 55,800 sq.m.  area in Xiengkhouang Province, Laos, from June 2012–July 2013. Mark-recapture methods estimated 301 individuals of T. podichthys at the study site. Newts were abundant during the breeding season (June–July), with a maximum density of 8.75 newts in 100 sq.m. of stream. The sex ratio of adult males and females was almost equal and did not differ throughout the year. The population was sexually dimorphic, with females having larger and heavier bodies than males, and different cloacal morphologies during the breeding season. Males, females and immature newts (efts) used a variety of habitat and microhabitat types. Adult newts occupied a stream only during a brief breeding period, but otherwise were primarily terrestrial. The breeding season began in the early rainy season during June–July, and efts emerged from the stream during the dry, cold season beginning in December. Diet was studied by stomach-flushing methods, and consisted primarily of terrestrial invertebrates, especially woodlice (Ligiidae), earthworms (Haplotaxida) and pillbugs (Armadillidae). Unlike in many other newts, conspecific oophagy was not observed. Diet composition, number of prey consumed, and volume of prey consumed did not differ among adult males, adult females or efts.

Key words. amphibian, diet, ecology, life cycle, mark-recapture

Fig. 6. Life stages of Tylototriton podichthys at the study site. A, Eggs under grass in June; B, eggs on leaf litter in July, C, larvae at bottom of stream pool in October, D, eft emerging onto land, found under a log 30 cm from the stream water on 10 December 2012, E, dorsal view; and F, ventral view of an eft that has begun to resemble an adult newt.
Fig. 2. Sexual dimorphism of Tylototriton podichthys at the study site. A, Dorsal view of adult female; B, dorsal view of adult male; C, ventral view of female cloaca; D, ventral view of male cloaca.

Phimmachak, Stuart & Aowphol, 2015 || LKCNHM.nus.edu.sg

Somphouthone Phimmachak, Bryan L. Stuart and Anchalee Aowphol. 2015. Ecology and Natural History of the Knobby Newt Tylototriton podichthys (Caudata: Salamandridae) in Laos. RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 63: 389–400

LKCNHM.nus.edu.sg/nus/images/data/raffles_bulletin_of_zoology/vol63/63rbz389-400.pdf

ResearchgGte.net/publication/281629520_Ecology_and_Natural_History_of_the_Knobby_Newt_Tylototriton_podichthys_(Caudata_Salamandridae)_in_Laos

[Herpetology • 2015] Tylototriton podichthys • Morphological and Molecular Variation in Tylototriton (Caudata: Salamandridae) in Laos, with Description of A New Species

ປາຕີນ | Tylototriton podichthys Phimmachak, Aowphol & Stuart, 2015

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4006.2.3

Abstract

The salamandrid genus Tylototriton is poorly known in Laos, with one described species and unverified reports of two others. We undertook new fieldwork and obtained samples of Tylototriton at six localities across northern Laos during 2009–2013. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA, principal component analyses of 13 mensural characters, and qualitative morphological comparisons with samples from across the geographic range of Tylototriton were performed. Samples from Laos fell into four molecular and morphological groups, consisting of T. notialis, T. panhai, T. anguliceps, and a fourth lineage that is hypothesized here to be an undescribed species. Tylototriton podichthys sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by having distinct mitochondrial DNA haplotypes and in characteristics of the glandular skin on the head and body, shape of the rib nodules, and coloration of the body and limbs. This study expands the number of confirmed Tylototriton species in Laos from one to four, with the description of one species and extension of the ranges of T. panhai and T. anguliceps to Laos. An improved understanding of the geographic ranges of T. podichthys sp. nov. and T. anguliceps within Laos is needed.

Keywords: Reptilia, Caudata, Laos, Southeast Asia, Tylototriton shanjing, Tylototriton verrucosus

Tylototriton podichthys sp. nov.

Tylototriton shanjing Matsui 2013: 187;
Nishikawa, Khonsue, Pomchote & Matsui 2013a: 264 (part);
Sparreboom 2014: 370 (part).

Tylototriton verrucosus verrucosus (part) Le, Nguyen, Nishikawa, Nguyen, Pham, Matsui, Bernardes & Nguyen 2015: 39.

Subgenus: The new species is assigned to the subgenus Tylototriton Dubois & Raffaëlli 2009 (= T. verrucosus species group of Fei et al. 2005) based on its phylogenetic position (Fig. 1) and having orange coloration on limbs and lateral surfaces of tail (Nishikawa et al. 2014).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition taken from pod Gr., foot, and ichthys Gr., fish, in reference to the Lao language name pa theen, ປາຕີນ, meaning “fish with feet,” that is widely used for newts (Tylototriton and Laotriton) in Laos.

Diagnosis. Tylototriton podichthys sp. nov. is a Tylototriton (subgenus Tylototriton) having the combination of an indistinct glandular ridge on midline of crown; distinct, rounded rib nodules with diameter equivalent to or greater than that of eye; parotoid oriented parallel to body axis in lateral view; thick, glandular, vertebral tubercular ridge; rough, glandular skin on cranial crest; uniformly orange cranial crest and parotoids; orange markings separated between rib nodules; dark coloration on ventral surfaces of limbs; and dark coloration on digit tips. 

Phimmachak, Somphouthone, Anchalee Aowphol & Bryan L. Stuart. 2015. Morphological and Molecular Variation in Tylototriton (Caudata: Salamandridae) in Laos, with Description of A New Species. Zootaxa. 4006(2): 285–310.  DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4006.2.3

ResearchGate.net/publication/281265147_Morphological_and_molecular_variation_in_Tylototriton_(Caudata_Salamandridae(_in_Laos_with_description_of_a_new_species

[Herpetology • 2015] Limnonectes lauhachindai • A New Caruncle-bearing Limnonectes (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from northeastern Thailand

Lauhachinda's Fanged Frog | กบหงอนอาจารย์วีรยุทธ์ 
Limnonectes lauhachindai 
Aowphol, Rujirawan, Taksintum, Chuaynkern & Stuart. 2015

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3956.2.6

Abstract

A new species of the dicroglossid frog genus Limnonectes is described from Ubon Ratchathani Province, northeastern Thailand. Limnonectes lauhachindai sp. nov. differs from its congeners by having males with a low-profiled, U-shaped caruncle with free posterior margin that completely occupies, but does not extend beyond, the interobital region. The new species is most closely related to L. gyldenstolpei and L. dabanus. Its description brings the total number of caruncle-bearing species of Limnonectes to five.

Keywords: caruncle, Limnonectes gyldenstolpei, Limnonectes dabanus, Ubon Ratchathani

Aowphol, Anchalee, Attapol Rujirawan, Wut Taksintum, Yodchaiy Chuaynkern & Bryan L. Stuart. 2015. A New Caruncle-bearing Limnonectes (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from northeastern Thailand. Zootaxa. 3956(2): 258–270. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3956.2.6

 ResearchGate.net/publication/277325286_A_new_caruncle-bearing_Limnonectes_Anura_Dicroglossidae_from_northeastern_Thailand
http://www.bryanlstuart.com/site/Publications_files/Aowphol%20et%20al.%202015.pdf
facebook.com/ForestBiology.Forestry/posts/851202401625431
http://chm-thai.onep.go.th/chm/Dry/bdd_animal14.html

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:270500F3-C33E-434B-B5F1-1FDB7A856AD9

[Herpetology • 2013] ปาดเรียวมลายู | Polypedates discantus | Malayan Slender Tree Frog • A New Tree Frog in the Genus Polypedates (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Hatyai, Songkhla Province, southern Thailand

ปาดเรียวมลายู | Malayan Slender Tree Frog  

 Polypedates discantus Rujirawan, Stuart & Aowphol 2013

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3702.6.3

Abstract

We describe a new species of Southeast Asian rhacophorid frog belonging to the Polypedates leucomystax species complex from Songkhla Province, southern Thailand. Polypedates discantus sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of having the skin of the head not co-ossified with the skull; absent or indistinct white dots on the back of the thigh; paired-vocal sac openings; and a round tubercle on the tibiotarsal articulation. The new species is also distinguished from P. leucomystax and P. megacephalus in univariate and multivariate analyses of quantitative morphometric characters, and has uncorrected pairwise distances of 6.61–7.16% from its closest relative, P. leucomystax, in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene The new species has four distinct male advertisement call types, consisting of one-note, two-note, three-note and staccato calls. The new species occurs syntopically with P. leucomystax at the type locality.

Key words: Rhacophoridae; Polypedates; advertisement call; morphology; species complex; Thailand 

FIGURE 6. Polypedates discantus sp. nov. holotype (ZMKU AM 00992) in life.(A) rear of right thigh, (B) ventral view of right hand, and (C) ventral view of right foot. Scale bar = 5 mm.

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3702.6.3

Polypedates discantus sp. nov.

Polypedates leucomystax “Morph B” Narins, Feng, Yong and Christensen-Dalsgaard, 1998: 129.

Polypedates sp. “Malay Clade” Kuraishi, Matsui, Hamidy, Belabut, Ahmad, Panha, Sudin, Yong, Jiang, Ota, Thong and Nishikawa, 2013: 1.

Holotype: ZMKU AM 00992, adult male, collected at Thung Tam Sao, Hat Yai District, Songkhla

Province, Thailand, on 15 November 2012 with advertisement calls recorded at 18.35h at 28.4 °C by Anchalee Aowphol, Attapol Rujirawan, Siriporn Yodthong, Korkhwan Termprayoon, and Natee Ampai.

Etymology. The specific epithet discantus taken from dis L. for separate and cantus L. for song, in reference to the new species’ differing call from the syntopic P. leucomystax.

Suggested common name. Malayan slender tree frog (English). ปาดเรียวมลายู: Paad-Reaw-Ma-La-Ewu (Thai), taken from Paad for tree frog, Reaw for slender, Ma-La-Ewu for Malayan.

ปาดเรียวมลายู | Malayan Slender Tree Frog  | Polypedates discantus

photo by V.Lauhachinda:  554231751308544

Malayan Slender Tree Frog  | Polypedates discantus

male from Wang Prachan, Thai-Malay border

photo by P. Pawangkhanant: 10201387063430364

Rujirawan, Attapol, Bryan L. Stuart & Anchalee Aowphol. 2013. A New Tree Frog in the Genus Polypedates (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from southern Thailand. Zootaxa. 3702(6): 545–565. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3702.6.3

http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2013/f/z03702p565f.pdf

http://www.bryanlstuart.com/site/Publications_files/Rujirawan%20et%20al.%202013.pdf