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| Hoplobatrachus salween Thongproh, Chunskul, Sringurngam, Waiprom, Makchai, Cota, Duengkae, Duangjai, Hasan, Chuaynkern & Chuaynkern, 2022 Salween Bullfrog | กบสาละวิน || kasetsartjournal.ku.ac.th |
Abstract
Importance of the work: Northwestern Thailand lacks any intensive survey of amphibian fauna; thus, this area is suspected to have undiscovered populations of amphibians. Therefore, conducting field surveys in such areas is essential to fill knowledge gaps about species richness in this animal group. Objectives: To describe a new species of frog genus Hoplobatrachus as new to science. Materials & Methods: A new species was described based on specimens collected from Salawin National Park, Mae Sariang District, Mae Hong Son province, northwestern Thailand. The new species was separated from its congeners inferred from molecular (16S and Cytb genes) and morphological information. Results: The new species was distinguished from its congeners based on mitochondrial DNA sequence analyses and morphological comparisons. The species was characterized by the following characters: pointed snout; large size (snout-vent length [SVL] of adult males = 94.8–102.4 mm, SVL of females = 93.2–96.3 mm); presence of mid-dorsal stripe; absence of thin stripe on inner side of tibia; presence of sexual dichromatism; yellow external vocal sac; presence of nuptial pad on base of first finger in adult males; relative length of finger II < IV < I < III, toe I < II < V < III < IV.
Keywords: Hoplobatrachus, Hoplobatrachus litoralis, Hoplobatrachus rugulosus, Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, Tiger frog
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| Photographs of a live adult Hoplobatrachus salween sp. nov. male paratype (KKUC 01176/THNHM 26832) showing the coloration and pattern: (A) dorsolateral view; (B) ventral part of head and body; (C) lateral view; (D) posterior thigh. |
Hoplobatrachus salween sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Hoplobatrachus salween sp. nov. is characterized by the following combination of characters: body slightly stout; pointed snout; SVL of adult males 98.6 ± 5.42 (94.8–102.4 mm, n = 2), females 94.1 ± 1.49 (93.2–96.3 mm, n = 4); presence of mid-dorsal stripe; absence of thin stripe on inner side of tibia; presence of sexual dichromatism (completely yellow in whole body and limbs); presence of external vocal sac and vocal sac opening in adult males; presence of nuptial pad on base of the first finger in adult males; relative finger lengths II < IV < I < III, toe I < II < V < III < IV; phylogenetic topological position close to H. litoralis (3.1% of 16S and 11.5% of Cytb) and H. tigerinus (5.1% of 16S and 12.3% of Cytb).
Etymology and other names: The specific name “salween” refers to the Salween River (known in Myanmar as the Thanlyin River and in China as the Nu River). The Salween, which is the 26th longest river (about 2,880 km) in the world, is a very important river for China, Myanmar and Thailand. The river flows from the Tibetan Plateau through China, Myanmar, and Thailand into the Andaman Sea.
An English name “Salween Bullfrog” and a Thai name “กบสาละวิน - Kob Salawin” are suggested by the current study.
กบเหลืองสาละวิน; อุทยานแห่งชาติสาละวิน อำเภอแม่สะเรียง จังหวัดแม่ฮ่องสอน
Prapaiporn Thongproh, Jidapa Chunskul, Yutthana Sringurngam, Likhit Waiprom, Sunchai Makchai, Michael Cota, Prateep Duengkae, Sutee Duangjai, Mahmudul Hasan, Chantip Chuaynkern and Yodchaiy Chuaynkern. 2022. A New Species of the Genus Hoplobatrachus Peters, 1863 (Anura, Dicroglossidae) from northwestern Thailand. Agriculture and Natural Resources -- formerly Kasetsart Journal (Natural Science). 56(6); 1135-1152. kasetsartjournal.ku.ac.th/abstractShow.aspx?param=YXJ0aWNsZUlEPTcwODZ8bWVkaWFJRD03NTI2
