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| Body in lateral view of adult female Borneo Rainbow Toad, or Sambas Stream Toad Ansonia latidisca; approximately 51 mm. in length
photo: Indraneil Das
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Sambas Stream Toad | Ansonia latidisca Inger, 1966
Abstract
On the basis of three female specimens collected recently, some aspects of a little known Bornean bufonid, Ansonia latidisca, are reported. On the mitochondrial phylogenetic tree, the species is basal to the group consisting of some Bornean species, and most Peninsular Malaysian and Thailand species, which is sister to the other group consisting of the remaining Bornean species, several Philippine species, and one Peninsular species. This relationship indicates that the the genus Ansonia has originated within Borneo. Superficial similarity of the species with Sabahphrynus maculatus is thought be the result of convergence in adaptation to an arboreal life.
Keywords: Ansonia, Borneo, Phylogeny, Rare species, Sabahphrynus
Abstract
On the basis of three female specimens collected recently, some aspects of a little known Bornean bufonid, Ansonia latidisca, are reported. On the mitochondrial phylogenetic tree, the species is basal to the group consisting of some Bornean species, and most Peninsular Malaysian and Thailand species, which is sister to the other group consisting of the remaining Bornean species, several Philippine species, and one Peninsular species. This relationship indicates that the the genus Ansonia has originated within Borneo. Superficial similarity of the species with Sabahphrynus maculatus is thought be the result of convergence in adaptation to an arboreal life.
Keywords: Ansonia, Borneo, Phylogeny, Rare species, Sabahphrynus
Type locality: "Mount Damus, Sambas, Kalimantan", Indonesia (Borneo).
Holotype: RMNH 10677.
Head in lateral view of adult female Borneo Rainbow Toad, also referred to as Sambas Stream Toad (Ansonia latidisca) © Indraneil Das
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| View of summit of Gunung Penrissen, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo - type locality of Ansonia latidisca.
photo: Indraneil Das
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Not seen since the 1950s this species was endemic to Borneo. Known as the Sambas Stream toad (Ansonia latidisca), researchers believe logging may have destroyed their water habitat.
Illustration by: Fieldiana Zoology.
Reproduced in Inger (1966)
Masafumi Matsui, Kanto Nishikawa, Siew Teck Yeo and Koshiro Eto. 2012. Notes on A Rare Bornean Bufonid Ansonia latidisca Inger, 1966, with Special Reference to its Phylogenetic Position. Current Herpetology. 31(2); 87-96. DOI: 10.5358/hsj.31.87
“Lost” Amphibian Stages Amazing Reappearing Act in Borneo after Eluding Scientists for 87 years: Conservation.org/Lost_amphibian_Amazing_Reappearing
Lost Rainbow Toad Found After 87 Years | Wired | http://bit.ly/qGiC6X
Rarest of the rarest: top 10 lost amphibians: Guardian.co.uk/gallery/2010/aug/09/wildlife-conservation
Photos: world's top ten 'lost frogs' news.Mongabay.com/hance-lostfrogs-topten