[Herpetology • 2012] Notes on A Rare Bornean Bufonid Ansonia latidisca Inger, 1966 || Borneo Rainbow Toad or Sambas Stream Toad reappearing in Borneo after 87 years

  Body in lateral view of adult female Borneo Rainbow Toad, or Sambas Stream Toad Ansonia latidisca; approximately 51 mm. in length 

photo: Indraneil Das 

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

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

View of summit of Gunung Penrissen, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo - type locality of Ansonia latidisca.

photo: Indraneil Das 

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)

Conservation.org - Ansonia_latidisca

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

http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=ce7f628f-64f7-4ded-ae6c-1370d9a532b3%40sessionmgr4005&vid=0&hid=4105&preview=false

“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

India's 5 Lost Frogs Rediscoverd, including: Ramanella anamalaiensis • Raorchestes chalazodes • Micrixalus thampii

Anamalai Dot-frog (Ramanella anamalaiensis) • Chalazodes Bubble-nest Frog (Raorchestes chalazodes)

Silent Valley Tropical Frog (Micrixalus thampii)

• Dehradun Stream Frog (Amolops chakrataensis) • Elegant Tropical Frog (Micrixalus elegans)

Photograph courtesy S.D. Biju, Lost Frogs/Conservation International

At present amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates on earth. Great efforts have gone into rediscovering the world’s lost amphibians. Sometimes these expedition come back with unexpected surprises, and sometimes they lead to disappointment. Conservation International, in cooperation with the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group and Global Wildlife Conservation launched a campaign last August to rediscover these lost amphibians. With teams working in 21 countries they had some great results, finding lost amphibians in Haiti, Ecuador and Colombia.Furthermore, in a breathtaking achievement, five lost frog species have been successfully rediscovered in India.

Chalazodes Bubble-nest Frog (Raorchestes chalazodes)

Lost for 136 years

A fluorescent green frog, with ash-blue thighs and groin, this amphibian has been rediscovered after being lost for 136 years. Listed as critically endangered, it has bluish-black pupils and a yellow iris, which makes it a strikingly beautiful frog. The frog leads a secretive life, mostly inside reeds, was rediscovered by Ganesan R, Seshadri KS and SD Biju.

Anamalai Dot-frog (Ramanella anamalaiensis)

Lost for 73 years

A narrow-mouthed frog, with a marbled belly, which calls loudly during monsoon season, has been rediscovered after 73 years. Listed as data deficient on the IUCN Red List, the Anamalai Dot-frog was named after the Anamalai hills where it hides for most of the year inside tree-holes or under rocks.

Elegant Tropical Frog (Micrixalus elegans)

Lost for 73 Years

Again listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List, this beautiful frog, with brown lateral sides with cream border, was known only from the original description, based on a specimen collection in 1937. Rediscovered by KV Gururaja, KP Dinesh and SD Biju, after 73 years, the Elegant Tropical Frog lives in forest streams and calls from the edge of rivers where it presumably breeds.

Silent Valley Tropical Frog (Micrixalus thampii)

Lost for 30 Years

One of the most unusual discoveries, this frog was rediscovered in a rubbish bin during the LAI campaign. Last seen 30 years ago, this frog was listed as data deficient on the IUCN Red List. This beautiful frog, with a golden brown dorsum and dark black lateral sides, was rediscovered by a team including Don Church, Robin Moore, Franky Bossuyt, Ines Van Bocxlaer, David Gower, Mark Wilkinson, Darrel Frost, Wes Sechrest and SD Biju. The frog is the common ‘lost frog’ of the Silent Valley, where it was found.

Dehradun Stream Frog (Amolops chakrataensis)

Lost for 25 Years

Rediscovered after 25 years, the Dehradun Stream Frog was known only from the original description, based on a single specimen from back in 1985. Listed as data deficient on the IUCN red list, this is a rare frog which was found by a team of graduate students from Delhi University, Sonali G, Gargi S and Pratyush with Robin Suyesh, Rachunliu G Kamei and SD Biju. Its habitat requires protection for its survival.

The search for lost amphibians is essential for our ecosystem. These incredible species can control disease spreading insects, and also maintain healthy freshwater system. Dr. Don Church, President of Global Wildlife Conservation said: “Searching for lost species is among the most important conservation activities we can do as scientists. If we’re going to save them, we first have to find them”.

Photos: Bubble-nest Frog, Other "Extinct" Species Found: http://on.natgeo.com/fn16xe

5 Long Lost Frogs Of India Rediscoverd: http://mastimails.com/5-long-lost-frogs-of-india-rediscoverd/

Cave Splayfoot Salamander | Chiropterotriton mosaueri • crevice-dwelling Salamander from pine-oak forest in Mexico

Cave Splayfoot Salamander | Chiropterotriton mosaueri

Hidalgo Province, Mexico

Not seen since the discovery of a single individual in 1941.

The previous last known sighting of the Cave splayfoot salamander was of one individual salamander in 1941 – the same year it was first discovered. Despite many searches in caves along its presumed range, it has only now been rediscovered 70 years later by Sean Rovito.

Following local residents of Durango, Hidalgo, Mexico to a cave used as a source of water for the community, Sean spotted the Cave splayfoot salamander shortly after entering. After exploring some distance into the cave he found another C. mosaueri, as well as a Chiropterotriton magnipes crawling upside down on the cave ceiling – a species only seen once in the last ten years.

The Cave splayfoot salamander is a crevice-dweller that apparently requires humid caverns in pine-oak forest in order to survive. The forest habitat surrounding the caves is under severe pressure from expanding agriculture, and from wood extraction. Like Chiropterotriton magnipes, this species might have disappeared due to the drying of its caves following the removal of forest.

Conservation.org - Chiropterotriton_mosaueri

Making a Splash – "Extinct" Amphibians Rediscovered After Decades Lost to Science: Conservation.org/Extinct_Amphibians_Rediscovered-AfterDecades-LosttoScience

Pictures: "Extinct" Frogs, Salamander Found: http://on.natgeo.com/cCGLta

Photos: 'Lost amphibian' search makes good: three 'extinct' species rediscovered : news.Mongabay.com/2010/0922-vanished_amphibians.html

6 'Lost' Eleutherodactylus frog discovered in Haiti

Macaya Burrowing Frog (E. parapelates)

• Hispaniolan Ventriloquial Frog (E. dolomedes)

Mozart's Frog (E. amadeus) • La Hotte Glanded Frog (E. glandulifer)

Hispaniolan Crowned Frog (E. corona) • Macaya Breast-spot frog (E. thorectes)

6 'Lost' Eleutherodactylus frog discovered in Haiti

In Haiti, six surprising rediscoveries of species in the country's diminishing forest regions. These species — which include the ventriloquial frog (Eleutherodactylus dolomedes) and Mozart's frog (E. amadeus) — had not been seen in two decades.

Hope for Haiti: Conservation.org/Articles/Haiti_hope_new_frogs

Haiti earthquake: Rediscovered frog species offer signs of hope - Gallery

Pictures: 6 'lost' frog species discovered in Haiti: http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0111-lost_frogs_haiti.html

Rio Pescado stubfoot toad | Atelopus balios • Rediscovered after 15 years in Ecuador

FOUND! September 2010

Photograph: Eduardo Toral-Contreras

/Conservation International

Rio Pescado stubfoot toad | Atelopus balios

• Rediscovered after 15 years in Ecuador by Eduardo Toral-Contreras and Elicio Tapia. Researchers feared that the deadly amphibian chytridiomycosis had wiped out this species along with many other closely related species in Ecuador. This find is significant and very encouraging, offering an opportunity to protect this rare species

Last seen in 1995 in Ecuador

Photograph: Luis Coloma/Conservation International

This species lives on riverbanks and lowland rainforest in southwestern Ecuador. Little is known about their breeding habits, but it is likely that they breed in streams like other species in the genus.

conservation.org - Atelopus_balios

FOUND! September 2010

Photograph: Eduardo Toral-Contreras

/Conservation International

Worldwide search for 'lost frogs' ends with 4% success, but some surprises:news.Mongabay.com/2011/0215-hance_lostfrogs.html

Haiti earthquake: Rediscovered frog species offer signs of hope -Gallery

Search launched for 'lost' amphibians - Guardian.co.uk/2010/lost-amphibians-frogs-search