Hylarana taipehensis (Van Denburgh, 1909)

Examined materials (48 specimens)

TAIWAN: New Taipei City, Sanzhi Township: NTNU 202428–202429, females; NTNU 202430–202432, males; Shimen district: NTNU 202468–201475, males. VIETNAM: Dong Nai Province, Cat Tien N.P.: ZMMU NAP 1505–1507, males; Lam Dong Province, Loc Bao: ZMMU NAP 2801–2803, males; Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Binh Chau-Phuok Buu N.P.: ZMMU NAP 3063–3065, males; Khanh Hoa, Cam Ranh: ZMMU NAP 3217, male; Tay Ninh Province, Lo Go-Xa Mat N.P.: ZMMU NAP 3663, female; ZMMU NAP 3664–3665, males; Kien Giang Province, Phu Quoc N.P.: ZMMU NAP 3769, male; ZMMU NAP 3770, female; ZMMU NAP 3771, male; Dak Lak province, Yok Don N.P.: ZMMU NAP 4276–4277, males. Localities of the following samples are not available: ZMMU NAP 1133, male; ZMMU NAP 1675, female; ZMMU NAP 1694, male; ZMMU NAP 2804, male; ZMMU NAP 2821, female; ZMMU NAP 2936, female; ZMMU NAP 3066, male; ZMMU NAP 3069, male; ZMMU NAP 3423, female; ZMMU NAP 3666, male; ZMMU NAP 3772, male; ZMMU NAP 3773, female; ZMMU NAP 3774, male; ZMMU NAP 3807, female; ZMMU NAP 3808, male; ZMMU NAP 3809, female; ZMMU NAP 6053, female.

Descriptive characters

Small-sized frogs with a SVL of 26.3–33.6 mm in males and 34.9–46.8 mm in females. White dorsolateral folds running from the posterior corner of the eye to the groin and often a short white vertebral line above the anus (fig. 6B). Tympanum distinct and large. Limbs slender (fig. 6D). Tips of both fingers and toes slightly swollen. Fingers free; relative finger length F1 <F4 <F2 <F3 (fig. 7J). Three phalanges of the fourth toe free of webbing (fig. 6F); relative toe length T 1 <T 2 <T 3 <T 5 <T 4 (fig. 7N). Dorsal and ventral surface of body smooth.

Color in life

Body surface greenish in color. Inner sides of dorsolateral folds potentially bordered by a brown line. A blackish to yellowish, large, continuous band running from behind the tympanum to the groin. A few, irregular black spots on the surface of limbs (fig. 6B). Underside white (fig. 6D), but some indistinct black spots on the pectoral region.

Color in alcohol

Body surface tan in color. Dorsolateral folds usually bordered by dense, deep, brown color lines (fig. 7B). Dark brown lines distinct along the dorsolateral folds. Surface of the tibia slightly yellowish. Crossbars distinct on the surface of tibia. Ventral side whitish (fig. 7F).

Variation

Color of the dorsum varying from slightly yellowish to greenish. Of the examined 48 specimens, there was no large black marking at the base of the forelimbs, except in one individual (NTNU 202474). Surface of the tibia lacking spots, except for a few spots in one individual (NTNU 202474).

Habitat

At the vicinity of its type locality near Taipei, Taiwan, Hylarana taipehensis was found on lily flowers in a small body of water (from 140 to 225 m asl). It was generally found in areas of thick vegetation. It was sympatric with Sylvirana guentheri (Boulenger, 1882) in Shimen District, Taiwan.

Known occurrence of H. taipehensis

Hylarana taipehensis has been found in Shimen District, Sanzhi Township, New Taipei City and Longtan Township, Taiwan. However, the distribution may cover the entire northwest and southwest region of the country (fig. 1A, see above). The species has been reported from Cambodia (Pursat Province) (Daltry & Traeholt 2003; Goldberg et al. 2017), China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Yunnan) (Fei et al. 1999), Laos (Centre, Champasak Province, Kammouan Province, Mondolkiri Province, Ventiane Prefecture) (Duckworth et al. 1999; Teynié et al. 2010; Stuart 2005; Stuart et al. 2006; Manthey & Manthey 2017), Thailand (Chantaburi Province, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Udon Thani Province) (Ohler & Mallick 2002; Sun & Narins 2005; Danaisawadi 2009; Kaensa et al. 2014) and Vietnam (most of the country, in particular there are recently published references for Bac Giang Province, Dong Nai Province, Gia Lai Province, Ha Gian Province, Kien Giang Province, Lam Dong Province; Lang Son Province, Lao Cai Province, Quang Binh Province) (Furey et al. 2002; Bain & Nguyen 2005; Chen et al. 2005; Grismer et al. 2011; Hecht et al. 2013).