Rhacophorus monticola Boulenger 1896

Description

SVL = 33.05 – 43.40 mm; vomerine teeth present; a slightly pointed snout; loreal region slightly concave; nostrils are located in the middle between the tip of the snout and the eyes; internarial as wide as the upper eyelid; tympanum moderately distinct, 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 (TY/ EY = 0.363 – 0.427) of the eye diameter. The length of all finger disks is almost the same as or slightly larger than the tympanum; outer fingers are 2 / 3 webbed; penultimate phalanx of the fourth toe is free of webbing; subarticular tubercles and inner metatarsals are small; the heel reaches the anterior eyes or nostril when adpressed; tibia length 1 / 2 of body length when adpressed (TL/SVL = 0.506 – 0.555). Dorsal surface is reddish brown with black spots spread irregularly on the body and limbs; ventral surface is white or yellowish, granularious; there is a black line on the lateral side that separates the base colour on the dorsum and venter.

Habitat

This species is mainly arboreal and was observed in the canopy and sub-canopy and rarely found on the soil surface. The specimens were collected from Curculigo sp. leaves and Diplazium sp. branches 0.5 – 1.5 m above the water surface and 0.1 – 3 m away from the water flow. It was found to be active at 19 – 22°C and 73 – 92% humidity.

Remarks

This species is known only from southwestern and central Sulawesi, found above 1000 m asl (Iskandar and Mumpuni 2004). In the area of Lake Kalimpa ’ a, this species was found in plots 1 and 4 in the primary forest at elevations from 1668 – 1673 m asl. This species was less sensitive to our approach and often remained stationary when inadvertently touched.