Abstract
The Southeast Asian cascade frog, Rana livida (Blyth, 1856), has long been suspected to be a complex of species. Several different forms are described from across its vast range. The loss of type material and disparate sampling efforts are challenges. Is variability in this species due to geographic variation or to the presence of multiple species? We use concordant evidence from morphology, morphometrics, cellular DNA content, and allozyme electrophoresis to investigate diversity in R. livida from Vietnam. Three distinct species are recognized on the basis of morphology, as are four other suspect groups (morphotypes). Discriminant function analyses of morphometric data detect patterns of morphological variation among all seven groups. Pairwise comparison of cellular DNA content using t-tests shows significant differences among sympatric morphotypes, suggesting they represent distinct species. This hypothesis is supported by an analysis of 14 allozymic loci, in which fixed allelic differences are found among specimens in sympatry and allopatry. Examination of available type material of four junior synonyms of R. livida results in their recognition as species. One of these species, R. chloronota, is a wide-ranging species erroneously referred to as R. livida. Seven species occur in Vietnam.
We describe six new cryptic species belonging to the Rana chloronota complex, redescribeR. chloronota, R. livida, R. sinica, and R. graminea, and give comments on R. leporipes. Three of these new species (R. bacboensis, new species, R. hmongorum, new species, and R. daorum, new species) occur in montane forests in northern Vietnam, and two (R. banaorum, new species and R. morafkai, new species) are known only from the Tay Nguyen Plateau of Vietnam’s Central Highlands. One species, R. megatympanum, new species, occurs in portions of both northern Vietnam and the Central Highlands. An identification key for the Rana chloronota complex from Vietnam is provided. The finding of six cryptic species within a small portion of the geographic region of R. chloronota suggests that many more cascade ranids await discovery. This documentation has serious implications for conservation; each of the new species occurs in sympatry with at least one other member of the complex. Consequently, far more species are being affected by habitat loss than was previously thought.
— New species —
Rana bacboensis, new species
ETYMOLOGY: The specific name, derived from Bac Bo, the Vietnamese name for northern Vietnam (often referred to as Tonkin), reflects this species’ distribution.
DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY: Rana bacboensis occurs in forested montane river systems across northern Vietnam. These rivers vary from shallow and slow moving to torrential and deep. Specimens may be found on boulders and logs, both in and around the water and in the adjacent forest. Radiographs revealed that females feed on large invertebrates, including small freshwater crabs. Females were collected in April–May and October. The holotype, collected in October, has fully developed ova, and two females (ROM 26358, 29529) collected in the spring have undeveloped ova suggesting a fall breeding season. No calls are associated with this species. The tadpoles are unknown.
REMARKS: Cascade ranids bearing white eggs lay them under rocks, sheltered from the sunlight (Pope, 1931; ROM field notes, 1996). In contrast, the black eggs of R. bacboensis might be found where they are exposed to sunlight to promote development, are quirement for some species with melanic eggs (Duellman and Trueb, 1986).
Rana daorum, new species
ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a patronym for the ao people (pronounced –D‘‘zao’’) of northern Vietnam.
DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY: This species is known from the vicinity of Sa Pa village,
Lao Cai Province in northern Vietnam. The photograph of a froglet of R. livida (in Karsen et al., 1998) also documents the occurrence of R. daorum in Hong Kong. The distinctive granular dorsolateral fold of R. daorum is clearly visible in the misidentified frog.
In early May, male Vietnamese R. daorum are actively calling by 1000 hours on partially submerged rocks in cascades as well as in vegetation adjacent to the streams. Females, although not as common, can be found slightly farther away from streams in more dense vegetation. One male (ROM 26394) was found in amplexus with the holotype (fig. 6E).
REMARKS: Rana daorum differs substantially from R. graminea (Boulenger, 1899; Bourret, 1942) despite having a dorsolateral fold. Its small, forked xiphisternum differs from the large, deeply notched element of other members in the Rana chloronota complex and the subgenus Odorrana (sensu Fei et al., 1990) and more closely resembles that of male Huia nasica (Yang, 1991b). Huia nasica shares range, habitat and morphological similarities with the Rana chloronota complex: greatly expanded finger and toe disks, tremendous sexual dimorphism in size, white eggs, paired gular pouches, and a high chirplike call (Boulenger, 1920; Pope, 1931; Bourret, 1942).
Rana hmongorum, new species
ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a patronym for the Hmong (pronounced ‘‘huhmung’’) people, an ethnic group in the northern montane regions of Vietnam. Their assistance made it possible for us to document the fauna of Hoang Lien Mountains.
DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY: This species is only known only from the vicinity of
Mount Fan Si Pan at approximately 1900 m or above. Adults were found along the cascades of a waterfall and along the mossy slopes of a human-made culvert.
Rana morafkai, new species
ETYMOLOGY: The specific name honors David Joseph Morafka, Research Associate
of the Royal Ontario Museum and California Academy of Sciences, in recognition of his
unfailing friendship, his unselfish development and perpetuation of multiple, independent research programs, and for his catapulting the careers of many conservation biologists.
DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY: Rana morafkai is known only from the Tay Nguyen Plateau of the Central Highlands, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam. It inhabits forested montane river systems. Specimens may be found on or near rapids or waterfalls. In at least May and June, male specimens may have distended gular pouches, indicating that this species breeds in spring.
REMARKS: This species has been previously referred to as R. livida by Inger and Chanard (1997) and Inger et al. (1999).
Rana banaorum, new species
ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a patronym for the Ba Na people, an ethnic group living on the Tay Nguyen Plateau (Central Highlands) of south-central Vietnam where this species occurs.
DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY: Rana banaorum is known only from the Tay Nguyen Plateau of the Central Highlands, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam. It inhabits forested montane river systems on or near rapids or waterfalls of primary and disturbed second growth. In May and June males have tight, leathery gular pouches, suggesting that they are not calling and that the breeding season occurs during some other time.
REMARKS: Inger and Chanard (1997) and Inger et al. (1999) noted that specimens of Rana chloronota (as R. livida) from An Khe have more pronounced dorsolateral folds than elsewhere in Vietnam. These frogs do not fit Bourret’s (1942) interpretation of R. graminea as a ‘‘northern variety’’ of R. chloronota. These differences likely reflect the occurrence of three sympatric species of the R. chloronota complex from this region. Some male R. banaorum have indistinct, microscopic spinules on the dorsal surface of the leg extending to the feet, forming a ‘‘saw-tooth’’ formation along the lateral edge of toe (seen in FMNH specimens that are not part of the type series).
Rana megatympanum, new species
ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in opposition, derived from the Latin prefix ‘‘mega’’ (meaning very large) and ‘‘tympanum’’, in reference to the relatively large tympanum of this species.
DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY: Rana megatympanum is known from northern and north-central Vietnam. It occurs in montane rivers that vary from shallow and slow moving to torrential and deep. It may be found on boulders and logs, both in and around the water as well as in the adjacent forest. Radiographs revealed that large invertebrates (both insects and crustaceans) form part of the diet. Vocalizations and tadpoles are unknown.
REMARKS: The dorsolateral fold and very large tympanum of male R. megatympanum potentially make it Bourret’s (1942) ‘‘northern form’’ of R. chloronota (5 R. graminea). However, R. graminea is bright green above (Boulenger, 1899) in contrast to the olivebrown dorsum of R. megatympanum.
Fig. 11. Members of the Rana chloronota complex. (A) Male and female and (B) male R. chloronota, Nghe An Province, Vietnam. C. R. graminea, male, Hainan Island, China, (NLO field series 26375). D. R. bacboensis,new species, holotype, a female from Nghe An Province, Vietnam. (E) Female holotype and male paratype in amplexus, and (F) juvenile paratype of R. daorum, new species, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam.
Fig. 14. Members of the Rana chloronota complex from Vietnam. A. Paratype of R. hmongorum,
new species, male from Lao Cai Province. (B) Female, brown (night) phase, (C) female, green (day) phase, and (D) male of R. morafkai, new species, from Gia Lai Province. (E) Female and (F) male of R. banaorum, new species, from Gia Lai Province. (G, H) female of R. megatympanum new species.
Bain, R.H., A. Lathrop, R.W. Murphy, N. Orlov, and T.C. Ho. 2003. Cryptic species of a cascade frog from southeast Asia: taxonomic revisions and descriptions of six new species. American Museum Novitates. 3417: 1–60.
http://cbc.amnh.org/center/staff/pdf/bain-pub/Bainetal2003.pdf
http://cbc.amnh.org/center/staff/pdf/bain-pub/Bainetal2003.pdf