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| คางคกต้นไม้ || Rentapia flavomaculata
Chan, Abraham & Badli-Sham, 2020
Distribution of samples used in this study. Inset photographs depict the distinct phenotypes present within the Rentapia hosii complex: Rentapia flavomaculata, new species, from Peninsular Malaysia; R. hosii s.s. from Sarawak (Photo by Alexander Haas); R. cf. hosii from Tawau, Sabah (Photo by Robert F. Inger).
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Abstract
We present a systematic revision of the Rentapia hosii complex based on morphological and bioacoustic data. In conjunction with genetic data from a previous study, our results show that populations from Peninsular Malaysia are distinct from the name-bearing population of R. hosii from Sarawak in terms of morphometrics, colour-pattern, and to a lesser degree, male advertisement call. Therefore, we describe the Peninsular Malaysian populations as a new species (Rentapia flavomaculata, new species) and provide a discussion on morphological variation among Bornean populations.
Key words. bioacoustics, integrative taxonomy, morphology, systematics
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| Fig. 1. Distribution of samples used in this study. Inset photographs depict the distinct phenotypes present within the Rentapia hosii complex [Photo credit: Alexander Haas (Sarawak); Robert F. Inger (Sabah) ©Field Museum of Natural History]. FMNH 248199. Created by Field Museum of Natural History, Amphibian and Reptile Collection and licensed under CC-BY-SA 4.0. |
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| amplecting Rentapia flavomaculata, new species, displaying (A) normal and (B) stressed colouration. |
Rentapia flavomaculata, new species
Yellow-spotted Tree Toad
Nectophryne hosii Boulenger, 1892: 508.
Pedostibes hosii Barbour, 1938: 192.
Rentapia hosii Chan et al., 2016: 9.
Diagnosis. Rentapia flavomaculata, new species, can be differentiated from other congeners by the following combination of characters: adult females large (up to 105 mm SVL); dorsum relatively smooth; no distinct tubercles on dorsal aspect of nuchal region; in life, dorsal colour light green, ventral colour greyish-green; bright yellow spots on back, side of head, flanks, dorsal surface of limbs, gular, ventrolateral region, and chest; spots absent on top of head and sparser (sometimes absent) on back. In males, dorsal colouration uniform brown to reddish-brown with no distinct markings; venter light grey with no distinct markings; gular sac blackish; nuptial pad present on dorsal surface of thumb; single, internal subgular vocal sac.
Distribution. Rentapia flavomaculata, new species, is confirmed to occur throughout Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand (south of the Isthmus of Kra).
Natural history. All species in the Rentapia hosii group are typically arboreal and occur in lowland forests from 20–525 m a.s.l. (Inger, 1966). Females are encountered much less frequently than males and are usually observed during breeding, where they descend from treetops to breed in pools of water along small to moderately sized forest streams. Females have been observed perched on branches up to 25 m above ground in the forest canopy near fast-flowing rivers. Males call from elevated perches and multiple individuals can usually be heard along a single stretch of stream. In females, base colour changes relatively rapidly from light green to dark grey when handled, stressed, and preserved (Fig. 7A, B). Males can change from light to a darker shade of brown.
Etymology. The specific epithet is constructed from the Latin adjectives flavo (= yellow) and maculata (= spotted) in reference to the species’ diagnostic yellow spots.
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| Fig. 7. Live photographs of: amplecting Rentapia flavomaculata, new species, displaying (A) normal and (B) stressed colouration; (C) female R. hosii s.s. from Sarawak (Photo by Alexander Haas); (D) female R. cf. hosii from Tawau, Sabah (Photo by Robert F. Inger; ©Field Museum of Natural History. FMNH 248199. Created by Field Museum of Natural History, Amphibian and Reptile Collection and licensed under CC-BY-SA 4.0); and (E) uncollected female from Tawau, Sabah (Photo by A. Haas). |
Kin Onn Chan, Robin K. Abraham and Baizul Hafsyam Badli-Sham. 2020. A Revision of the Asian Tree Toad Complex Rentapia hosii (Anura: Bufonidae) with the Description of A New Species from Peninsular Malaysia. RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 68; 595–607.
