New amphibian and reptile records from Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam

Most important is the recent overview of Bain and Nguyen 2004, describing two new species from that province including a first provincial herpetofaunal list with 36 recorded species of a

Although Vietnam is in the focus of herpetological

research since decades (e.g., Nguyen, 2006; Nguyen

et al., 2009), there still remains a considerable number

of new records and even species descriptions regularly

being published from this country (e.g., Bain, Nguyen

and Doan, 2007; Ziegler and Nguyen, 2010) Recent

research in the Vietnamese-Chinese border region has

revealed a number of species descriptions (e.g., David et

al., 2012; Nguyen et al., 2010a, 2011b, 2012, 2013a, b)

which clearly underlines the poor research state of these

forested regions One of these poorly studied regions

in northeastern Vietnam near the Vietnamese-Chinese

border is Ha Giang Province Only a few studies have

been conducted in this province so far Most important

is the recent overview of Bain and Nguyen (2004),

describing two new species from that province including

a first provincial herpetofaunal list with 36 recorded

species of amphibians (33 identified and 3 unknown

species) and 16 recorded species of reptiles Further

new herpetofaunal records for Ha Giang Province were

published by Ziegler et al (2006b), Le and Ziegler

(2009), Nguyen, Ho and Nguyen (2009) and Nguyen et

al (2010b) Most recently, Ohler et al (2011) described

the megophryid anuran species Leptolalax nyx from Ha

New amphibian and reptile records from Ha Giang Province,

northern Vietnam

Thomas Ziegler1,2, Dao Thi Anh Tran3,4, Truong Quang Nguyen2,5, Ronith Gila Bina Perl2,6 Lea Wirk2, Magdalena Kulisch2, Tanja Lehmann1,7, Anna Rauhaus1, Tao Thien Nguyen8, Quyet Khac Le9,10

and Thanh Ngoc Vu9

1 Cologne Zoo, Riehler Straße 173, 50735 Cologne, Germany.

2 Zoological Institute, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str 47

b, 50674 Cologne, Germany.

3 University of Science, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, 227 Nguyen Van Cu, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

4 Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany

5 Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam.

6 Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstr 4, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.

7 Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Germany.

8 Vietnam National Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy

of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam.

9 Faculty of Biology, University of Science, Vietnam National University, 334 Nguyen Trai Str., Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam.

10 University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA

Abstract Based on herpetological surveys conducted between December 2006 and May 2008 in the Tung Vai forest, Quan

Ba District, Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam we recorded eight amphibian species (Hyla annectans, Babina chapaensis,

Odorrana cf jingdongensis, O junlianensis, Gracixalus cf jinxiuensis, Rhacophorus duboisi, R feae, and R robertingeri)

and twelve reptile species (Gekko cf palmatus, Sphenomorphus indicus, Cyclophiops major, C multicinctus, Euprepiophis

mandarinus, Lycodon meridionalis, Oligodon chinensis, Oreocryptophis porphyraceus, Orthriophis taeniurus, Pseudoxenodon macrops, Rhabdophis subminiatus, and Sinomicrurus macclellandii) for the first time for that province Based on our recent

findings together with literature surveys we provide an updated herpetofaunal list for Ha Giang Province, in total comprising

102 species (50 species of amphibians, and 52 species of reptiles)

Keywords Herpetofauna, northern Vietnam, Ha Giang Province, morphology, taxonomy, distribution, first record.

Giang Province, and Nishikawa, Matsui and Nguyen

(2013) described a new salamander species, Tylototriton

ziegleri, from the northern provinces of Cao Bang and

Ha Giang pointing again towards the necessity of

ongoing research in these regions As a result of recent

field work in the Tung Vai forest in Ha Giang between

2006 and 2008 we herein provide new records of

amphibians and reptiles including an updated checklist

of the herpetofauna known from Ha Giang

Material and methods

Field surveys were conducted by Quyet Khac Le and

Thanh Ngoc Vu in the Tung Vai forest, Quan Ba District,

Ha Giang Province (Fig 1), northern Vietnam between

December 2006 and May 2008 The typical habitat

consisted of evergreen broad-leaved forest on limestone

affected by cultivation of cardamom (Amomum tsaoko)

Surveys were taken place along forest paths and

streams Specimens were photographed in the field and

subsequently released, or collected and photographed prior to preservation Specimens were fixed in 4% formalin or in 40-60% ethanol (amphibians) and 90% ethanol (reptiles) and subsequently transferred in 70 % ethanol for permanent storage Specimens referred to in this paper were deposited in the following collections: Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), Hanoi, Vietnam; Zoological Museum, Vietnam National University Hanoi (VNUH), Vietnam; Vietnam National Museum of Nature (VNMN), Hanoi, Vietnam; and Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn (ZFMK), Germany

A total of 25 specimens of amphibians were collected

(Leptobrachium chapaense IEBR A.2013.94, ZFMK 95471; Xenophrys major ZFMK 95472; Hyla annectans IEBR A.2013.93, ZFMK 95473; Limnonectes cf bannaensis IEBR A.2013.95, A.2013.96, VNUH 19.11.04-1, ZFMK 95474; Quasipaa spinosa IEBR A.2013.97, VNUH 19.11.04-2, ZFMK 95475; Babina chapaensis IEBR A.2013.98, ZFMK 95476; Odorrana

Figure 1 (A) Map showing the location of Ha Giang Province in northern Vietnam; (B, C) Tung Vai forest, Quan Ba District, Ha

Giang Province, where surveys were conducted

chloronota ZFMK 95477; Odorrana cf jingdongensis

ZFMK 95478; Odorrana junlianensis ZFMK 95479;

Gracixalus gracili pes ZFMK 93670; G cf jinxiuensis

IEBR A.2013.99, ZFMK 93668-9; Rhacophorus duboisi

IEBR A.2013.100, ZFMK 95481; R robert ingeri ZFMK

95480; Theloderma asperum IEBR A.2013.101, ZFMK

95482) and 10 specimens of reptiles (Acanthosaura

lepidogaster ZFMK 95483; Sphenomorphus indicus

ZFMK 95484; Cyclophiops major ZFMK 95485;

Oligodon chinensis ZFMK 95486; Pseudoxenodon

macrops IEBR A.2013.102, ZFMK 95487; Rhabdophis

subminiatus ZFMK 95488; Ovophis tonkinensis ZFMK

95489-95490; Sinomicrurus macclellandii VNMN 899)

(see Tables 1-3)

Taxonomic identifications were based on Boulenger

(1893), Smith (1943), Bourret (1936, 1942, 2009),

Liu (1950), Taylor (1962), Schulz (1996), Ohler et al

(2000), Ziegler (2002), Bain et al (2003), Bain and

Stuart (2006), Ziegler et al (2006a, 2007), Bourret

(2009), Chuaynkern et al (2010), Nguyen et al (2011a),

and Orlov et al (2012) Nomenclature for amphibians

followed Bain et al (2009), McLeod (2010), Yu, Zhang

and Yang (2010), Ohler et al (2011), Frost (2013), and

Nishikawa et al (2013); for reptiles Nguyen et al (2009),

Rösler et al (2011), and Luu et al (2013) Systematics

and common names followed Nguyen et al (2009) and

Tran et al (2010) unless otherwise stated

For amphibians, all measurements for morphological analyses were taken with a digital caliper to the nearest 0.1 mm Measurements of anurans were performed as follows: snout-vent length (SVL), from tip of snout to urostyle; head length (HL); head width (HW); snout length (SNL); horizontal eye diameter (ED); horizontal tympanum diameter (TD); interorbital distance (IO); width of upper eyelid (UEW); thigh length (THL); tibia length (TBL); webbing formula followed Myers and Duellman (1982) For reptiles, all measurements except for body and tail lengths were taken with a caliper to the nearest 0.1 mm Body and tail lengths were measured with a caliper to the nearest 1.0 mm Abbreviations are

as follows: snout-vent length (SVL), from tip of snout

to vent; tail length (TaL), from vent to tip of tail; dorsal scale formula (DSF): dorsal scale rows one head length behind the head : at midbody : one head length anterior

to the vent The number of ventral scales was counted according to Dowling (1951) Bilateral scales counts are given as right/left

Scale counts and measurements are lacking for those specimens which were photographed and directly released into the field afterwards Sex was determined

by examination of secondary sexual characters and sex

of collected specimens lacking distinct secondary sexual characters was determined by gonad inspection

Hyla annectans

(n = 2)

35.4–38.2 11.2–11.6 12.0–13.3 4.9–5.1 4.0–4.4 2.3–2.3 1.1–1.2 17.1–18.3 19.2–18.44

Babina chapaensis

(n = 2) 42.1–48.8 19.7–21.0 15.2–17.6 6.9–8.6 5.7–5.9 4.6–4.8 1.2–1.4 18.3–21.1 20.5–25.4

Odorrana

cf jingdongensis

(n = 1)

O junlianensis

Gracixalus cf.

jinxiuensis

(n = 2)

30.9–32.0 11.1–11.5 11.7–12.6 5.4 4.4 1.8–1.9 1.2–1.3 13.3–14.5 15.2–15.7

Rhacophorus duboisi

(n = 2) 60.3–61.5 21.9–23.4 20.8–21.8 9.2–10.7 7.1–8.3 4.9–5.1 1.2–1.3 30.8–30.9 29.6–29.8

R robertingeri

Table 1 Measurements (in mm) of newly recorded anuran species from Ha Giang Province, northern Vietnam (n: number of

investigated specimens)

Taxon Status Data source

Order Caudata Salamandridae

1 Tylototriton ziegleri Nishikawa, Matsui & Nguyen, 2013 1, 3, 4 Order Anura

Bombinatoridae

Bufonidae

3 Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) 1, 2 Megophryidae

4 Brachytarsophrys cf feae (Boulenger, 1887) 2, 3

6 Leptolalax nyx Ohler, Wollenberg, Grosjean, Hendrix, Vences,

9 Xenophrys palpebralespinosa (Bourret, 1947) 1, 2

Microhylidae

Hylidae

Dicroglossidae

17 Fejervarya limnocharis (Gravenhorst, 1829) * 1, 2

19 Limnonectes cf.bannaensis Je, Fei & Jiang, 2007 * 1, 2, 3

23 Quasipaa verrucospinosa (Bourret, 1947) NT 2 Ranidae

Table 2 List of amphibian species recorded from Ha Giang Province, Vietnam (new provincial records in bold Data sources:

1: Bain and Nguyen (2004), 2: Nguyen et al (2009), 3: This study, 4: Nishikawa et al (2013), 5: Ohler et al (2011),*: species considered as complex of cryptic species; IUCN categories: EN: Endangered; NT: Near Threatened; VU: Vulnerable);

**: R calcaneus (see chapter of R robertingeri) was listed as NT; nomenclature followed Bain et al (2009), McLeod (2010), Yu

et al (2010), Ohler et al (2011), Frost (2013), Luu et al (2013) and Nishikawa et al (2013)

30 Hylarana taipehensis (Van Denburgh, 1909) 1, 2

31 Odorrana geminata Bain, Stuart, Nguyen, Che & Rao, 2009 1

33 Odorrana cf jingdongensis Fei, Ye & Li, 2001 3

34 Odorrana junlianensis Huang, Fei & Ye, 2001 VU 3

35 Odorrana tiannanensis (Yang & Li, 1980) * 1, 2

Rhacophoridae

38 Gracixalus cf jinxiuensis (Hu, 1978)* VU 3

41 Polypedates megacephalus Hallowell 1861* 1, 2

43 Rhacophorus duboisi Ohler, Marquis, Swan & Grosjean, 2000 3

45 Rhacophorus hoanglienensis Orlov, Lathrop, Murphy & Ho, 2001 1

47 Rhacophorus robertingeri Orlov, Poyarkov, Vassilieva, Ananjeva, Nguyen, Nguyen & Geissler, 2012** 3

49 Theloderma cf corticale (Boulenger, 1903) 2, 3

50 Theloderma rhododiscus (Liu& Hu, 1962) NT 1, 2

Table 3 List of reptile species recorded from Ha Giang Province, Vietnam (new provincial records in bold Data sources: 1:

Bain and Nguyen (2004), 2: Nguyen et al (2009), 3: This study, 4: Ziegler et al (2006b), 5: Le and Ziegler (2009), 6: Nguyen et al (2010b), *: species considered as complex of cryptic species; IUCN categories: EN: Endangered; NT: Near Threatened; VU: Vulnerable); nomenclature followed Nguyen et al (2009, 2011a), Rösler et al (2011), and Luu et al (2013)

Taxon Status Data source

Order Squamata Gekkonidae

1 Gekko gecko Linnaeus, 1758* 2

3 Hemidactylus frenatus Duméril & Bibron, 1836 2 Agamidae

4 Acanthosaura lepidogaster (Cuvier, 1829)* 1, 2

5 Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829 1, 2 Lacertidae

6 Takydromus sexlineatus Daudin, 1802 2 Scincidae

7 Ateuchosaurus chinensis Gray, 1845 2

8 Eutropis longicaudatus (Hallowell, 1856) 2

9 Eutropis multifasciatus (Kuhl, 1820) 2

10 Plestiodon chinensis (Gray, 1838) 2

11 Plestiodon tamdaoensis (Bourret, 1937) 2, 4

12 Scincella reevesii (Gray, 1838) 1, 2

14 Tropidophorus hainanus Smith, 1923 6 Anguidae

15 Dopasia harti (Boulenger, 1899) 1, 2 Order Serpentes

Colubridae

16 Ahaetulla prasina (Boie, 1827) 1, 2

17 Amphiesma modestum (Günther, 1875) 1, 2

18 Amphiesma khasiense (Boulenger, 1890) 1, 2

19 Calamaria septentrionalis Boulenger, 1890 1, 2

20 Coelognathus radiatus Boie, 1827 2

23 Dendrelaphis ngansonensis (Bourret, 1935) 2

24 Dendrelaphis pictus (Gmelin, 1789) 1

25 Enhydris plumbea (Boie, 1827) 2

29 Oligodon taeniatus (Günther, 1861) 1, 2

30 Oreocryptophis porphyraceus (Cantor, 1839) 3

31 Orthriophis taeniurus (Cope, 1861) 3

32 Pareas hamptoni (Boulenger, 1905) 1, 2, 3

33 Pseudoxenodon bambusicola Vogt, 1922 2, 4

34 Pseudoxenodon karlschmidti Pope, 1928 1, 2

35 Pseudoxenodon macrops (Blyth, 1854) 3

36 Ptyas korros (Schlegel, 1837) 1, 2

37 Rhabdophis subminiatus (Schlegel, 1837) 3

38 Sinonatrix aequifasciata (Barbour, 1908) 1, 2

39 Sinonatrix percarinata (Boulenger, 1899) 1, 2

40 Xenochrophis flavipunctatus (Hallowell, 1860) 2 Elapidae

41 Sinomicrurus macclellandii (Reinhardt, 1844) 3 Viperidae

42 Ovophis tonkinensis (Bourret 1934) 2

43 Protobothrops cornutus (Smith, 1930) NT 2, 5

44 Protobothrops mucrosquamatus (Cantor, 1839) 2, 3, 4

45 Trimeresurus stejnegeri Schmidt, 1925 1 Order Testudines

Platysternidae

46 Platysternon megacephalum Gray, 1831 EN 2 Geoemydidae

47 Cuora mouhotii (Gray, 1862) EN 2

48 Mauremys mutica (Cantor, 1842) EN 2

49 Sacalia quadriocellata (Siebenrock, 1903) EN 2

50 Testudinidae

51 Manouria impressa (Günther, 1882) VU 2 Trionychidae

Anura

Hylidae

Hyla annectans (Jerdon, 1870)

Assam Treefrog / Nhai ben dinh (Fig 2)

Specimens examined (n = 2): adult females (IEBR

A.2013.93, ZFMK 95473)

Distribution: Vietnam: Lao Cai, Vinh Phuc, and

Thua Thien-Hue provinces Elsewhere: India, China,

Myanmar, and Thailand (Nguyen et al., 2009)

Morphological features of examined specimens:

SVL 35.4–38.2 mm; head broader than long; snout

rounded anteriorly, its length longer than eye diameter;

interorbital space broader than upper eyelid width;

tympanum distinct, half the diameter of the eye, but

larger than the interorbital distance; supratympanic fold

distinct, granular; tongue slightly notched posteriorly;

tips of fingers and toes with discs; fingers webbed at base and bearing lateral fringes, formula: I2–2½II2–3III2½–2IV; webbing between toes more developed than between fingers, formula: I2–2¼II1½–3III2–3IV2¾–2V; relative lengths

of fingers: I=II<IV<III, and of toes: I<II<III<V<IV; dorsal skin smooth; throat smooth, belly and underside

of thigh with round granules

Coloration in life: Dorsal surface of head, body and limbs green; green patches on dorsum, lower arm, wrist, tibia, and tibiotarsal articulation edged by whitish

or yellowish discontinuous lines; green patches on the limbs ending at wrist and tibiotarsal articulation;

a greyish golden stripe extending from tip of snout through nostril, eye, and upper part of tympanum to shoulder; anterior part of flank whitish grey; groin, anterior and posterior aspects of thigh bright yellow with black spots; throat and belly grey (identification after Liu, 1950 and Taylor, 1962)

Remarks: The specimens from Ha Giang differ from

the description provided by Liu (1950) in the following features: nostril located in the middle between tip of

Figure 2 (A) Hyla annectans; (B) Babina chapaensis; (C, D) Odorrana junlianensis

snout and eye (versus nostril closer to tip of snout than to

eye); diameter of tympanum twice the distance between

tympanum and eye (versus diameter of tympanum

slightly exceeding its distance from the eye); and the

relative lengths of the fingers I=II<IV<III (versus

I<II<IV<III)

Ranidae

Babina chapaensis (Bourret, 1937)

Chapa Frog / Chang sa pa (Fig 2)

Specimens examined (n = 2): adult female (ZFMK

95476) and adult male (IEBR A.2013.98)

Distribution: Vietnam: Lao Cai, Bac Giang, Ha Tinh,

Kon Tum, Gia Lai, and Dak Lak provinces Elsewhere:

Laos and Thailand (Nguyen et al., 2009)

Morphological features of examined specimens:

SVL 42.1 mm in the male and 48.8 mm in the female;

head longer than wide; snout slightly pointed in dorsal

view and lower jaw distinctly projecting in lateral view;

nostril being midway between tip of snout and eye;

eye diameter 0.7–0.8 times of snout length; tympanum

distinct; supratympanic fold indistinct; tips of fingers

and toes dilated, with marginal grooves; relative finger

lengths: II<I≤IV<III; fingers free of webbing; first finger

of male with nuptial pad, divided into two separated

clusters; relative toe lengths: I<II<V<III<IV, webbing

formula: I2–2½II1¾–3III2½–3¾IV3–2V; inner metatarsal

tubercle prominent and elongated, its length 0.4–0.6

times of first toe length; metatarsal tubercle present;

heel overlapping when legs held at right angles to body;

skin above and beneath body smooth, some spinules

on back and thigh present close to vent; a distinct fold,

along upper jaw, terminating above level of insertion

of forearm

Coloration in life: Dorsum and flanks brown or dark

yellowish green, sometimes with few large black spots;

mid-dorsal stripe thin, whitish; tympanum reddish; pupil

black and surrounding iris golden; fold along upper lip

golden; legs with transverse bars (identification after by

Bourret, 1942 and Chuaynkern et al., 2010)

Remarks: The specimens from Ha Giang disagree with

the previous descriptions in the following characters:

tympanum diameter 0.8 times of eye diameter (versus as

large as or larger than eye diameter, see Bourret, 1942);

tibiotarsal articulation only reaching to eye (versus

tibiotarsal articulation reaching to snout, see Bourret,

1942 and Chuaynkern et al., 2010); tiny spinules present

on dorsum of tibia (versus spinules only present on back and thigh, see Bourret, 1942)

Odorrana cf jingdongensis Fei, Ye and Li, 2001

Jingdong Frog / Ech ging-dong

Specimen examined (n = 1): adult male (ZFMK

95478)

Distribution: Vietnam: Lao Cai Province Elsewhere:

China (Nguyen et al., 2009 ; Fei, Ye and Jiang, 2010)

Morphological features of examined specimen:

SVL 38.6 mm; head longer than wide; snout blunt in dorsal view; eye large, 0.9 times of the snout length; interorbital space slightly narrower than upper eyelid width (IO/UEW = 0.9); tympanum visible, round, nearly half of eye diameter (TD/ED = 0.4); supratympanic fold distinct; body dorsoventrally compressed; discs of fingers and toes enlarged, with circummarginal grooves; relative finger lengths: II<I<IV<III; fingers free of webbing; nuptial pad present; relative toe lengths: I<II<III<V<IV; toes fully webbed to discs, except for webbing on fourth toe, which appears as a fringe from the distal subarticular tubercle, webbing formula:

I1–2II1–2III1–2IV2–1V; dermal ridges along outside of first and fifth toes present; inner metatarsal tubercle oval, elongate; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; tarsal fold absent; skin dorsally with pustules, ventrally smooth Coloration in life: Dorsum and dorsal surface of limbs brown with large green patches, cross-bars on limbs present; light stripe along upper lip absent; eye with brown iris and black pupil, bordered by a yellow copper circle; flank brown with black spots; belly and throat cream, marbled with brown (identification followed

Bain et al., 2003).

Remarks: Rana hmongorum Bain, Lathrop, Murphy,

Orlov and Ho, 2003 was synonymized with O jingdongensis by Ohler (2007) Compared with

descriptions of Bain et al (2003) and Fei, Ye and Jiang (2010), the male specimen from Ha Giang is smaller:

SVL 38.6 mm versus 54–65 mm in R hmongorum or 62–81 mm in R jingdonensis (see Bain et al., 2003) and 62–82 mm in O jingdongensis (see Fei, Ye and Jiang,

2010); nostrils located nearly in the middle of distance between eye and tip of snout (NS/SNL = 0.4) (versus nostrils closer to eye than to tip of snout, see Bain et al., 2003)

Odorrana junlianensis Huang, Fei and Ye, 2001

Junlian Odorous Frog / Ech giun-li-an (Fig 2)

Specimen examined (n = 1): adult male (ZFMK

95479)

Distribution: Vietnam: Lao Cai Province Elsewhere:

China and Laos (Nguyen et al., 2009)

Morphological features of examined specimen:

SVL 70.4 mm; head slightly longer than wide; snout

truncated in dorsal view, projecting beyond lower jaw

in lateral view; nostril in the middle between tip of snout

and eye; tympanum distinct, 0.5 times as large as eye

diameter, and separated from eye by a distance of 0.7

times of its diameter; tympanic rim with small grains,

elevated relative to temporal region; supratympanic

fold distinct; tips of fingers and toes enlarged into discs

with grooves; narrow dermal fringes present on preaxial

sides of second and third fingers; two distinct palmar

tubercles, oval, in contact; nuptial pad on dorsolateral

part of first finger; webbings between toes extending to

bases of discs, formula: I0–1½ II 0–1½III0–2IV2–0V; lateral fringes present on fingers I and V; inner metatarsal tubercle elongated, half of the length of the first toe; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; tarsal fold absent; tibiotarsal articulation far beyond tip of snout; skin

on anterior part of dorsum smooth; posterior part of dorsum, posterior of upper eyelid, upper part of flank, and dorsal surface of thigh granular with white spinules; ventral surface smooth; a cluster of tiny, white spinules forming an 8-shaped figure on chest

Coloration in life: Dorsum green grey; throat and chest brown grey; anterior part of belly cream with brown grey marbling; posterior of belly and ventral surface of thigh cream colored; upper part of flank green grey, lower part of flank cream with grey marbling (identification followed Bain and Stuart, 2006)

Remarks: The specimen differs from the description of

Bain and Stuart (2006) by having an eye diameter 0.9 times of snout length (vs 0.63–0.7 times); interorbital distance slightly broader than upper eyelid width

Figure 3 (A) Gracixalus cf jinxiuensis; (B) Rhacophorus duboisi; (C) R feae; (D) R robertingeri.

(versus narrower); fingers I<II (versus I>II); and heels

overlapping when legs held at right angles to body

(versus heels only meeting)

Rhacophoridae

Gracixalus cf jinxiuensis (Hu, 1987)

Jinxiu Bubble-nest Frog / Nhai cay gin-xiu (Fig 3)

Specimens examined (n = 2): adult males (IEBR

A.2013.99, ZFMK 93668-93669)

Distribution: Vietnam: Lai Chau, Lao Cai, and Lang

Son provinces Elsewhere: China (Nguyen et al.,

2009)

Morphological features of examined specimens:

Small rhacophorid (SVL 30.9–32.0 mm); head wider

than long; snout rounded from dorsal view, its length

longer than eye diameter; interorbital distance broader

than upper eyelid; nostril closer to tip of snout than to

eye; tympanum distinct, rounded; supratympanic fold

distinct, extending from behind of eye to axilla; pineal

ocellus absent; spinules on upper eyelid absent; vomerine

teeth absent; tongue deeply notched posteriorly; arm

short, dermal fringe along outer side of forearm absent;

relative finger lengths: I<II<IV<III; tips of all fingers

with well developed disks with distinct circummarginal

grooves, disk of finger III as wide as tympanum diameter;

fingers free of webbing; nuptial pads prominent; palmar

turbercles small; heels overlapping when held at right

angles to the body; tibia longer than thigh; relative toe

lengths I<II<III≤V<IV; tips of toes with well developed

disks with distinct circummarginal grooves; webbing

formula I2–2½II1½–2½III2–3IV3–2V; inner metatarsal tubercle

distinct, small; dermal ridges along outer sides of tibia

and tarsal fold absent; dorsal surface of head, body and

thigh with small granules; dorsolateral fold absent;

throat and chest smooth, belly and ventral surface of

thigh granular; dermal appendage at vent absent

Coloration in preserved state: Snout and dorsum grey

with dark brown pattern forming an inverse Y marking;

a triangular pattern between eyes bifurcating into two

bands continuing posteriorly; lateral side of head and

flank grey without spots; tympanum brown; forelimb,

dorsal surface of thigh, tibia and foot grey with some

darker bars; throat, chest and belly immaculate cream

to white; ventral part of forelimbs white; ventral surface

of thighs white to grey; webbing grey For coloration

in life see Fig 3 (identification followed Nguyen et al.,

2008)

Remarks: The previous record of G jinxiuensis from

Quang Binh Province was reassigned to G quyeti

(Nguyen et al., 2008) Phylogenetic analysis by Rowley

et al., (2011) showed that G jinxiuensis is a species

complex

Rhacophorus duboisi Ohler, Marquis, Swan and

Grosjean, 2000

Dubois’ Whipping Frog / Ech cay duy-boa (Fig 3)

Specimens examined (n = 2): adult males (IEBR

A.2013.100, ZFMK 95481)

Distribution: Vietnam: Lao Cai Province Elsewhere:

expected in Yunnan, China (Nguyen et al., 2009)

Morphological features of examined specimens:

SVL 60.3–61.5 mm; head slightly longer than wide; snout pointed in dorsal view, its length larger than eye diameter; nostril round, closer to eye than to tip of snout; interorbital distance broader than upper eyelid width; tympanum distinct, round, its diameter about 0.6–0.7 times of eye diameter, and 1.9–2.4 times of space between tympanum and eye; supratympanic fold distinct; vomerine teeth in two oblique rows, connected

to choanae; tips of fingers and toes enlarged into discs with distinct circum-marginal grooves; two palmar tubercles flat and oval; finger webbing formula: I2¼–2

½II1½–3III2–2IV; toe webbing formula: I0–1II0–1III1–2IV2–1IV; outer side of toe V with dermal fringe; inner metatarsal tubercle slightly prominent, its length 0.3–0.4 times of the first toe length; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; dorsal surface of head, body, and limbs granular; flank slightly granular; throat, chest, belly, and ventral aspect

of thigh with small round flat granules

Coloration in life: Dorsal head, body and limbs green with dark large copper brown spots, edged in black and some small white spots; flank and posterior surface of thigh white with dark brown marbling; belly grey-white with numerous small, medium grey spots (identification followed Ohler et al., 2000)

Remarks: Both specimens agreed with the original

description of Ohler et al (2000) except for the following features: finger I as long as II (versus finger I<II); fringe along fifth toe extending to first subarticular tubercle and ending as a fold at base of tarsus (versus fringe along fifth toe terminating at first subarticular tubercle), a similar but narrower dermal fringe present along outside of first finger, from base of disc to inner metatarsal tubercle not mentioned by Ohler et al (2000);

and dorsal surfaces of head and body granular without

spinules (versus with horny spinules) R duboisi is very

similar to R puerensis, which was formerly reported

as R dugritei from Ha Giang Province by Bain and

Nguyen (2004) Li et al (2012) considered R puerensis

to be a valid species and referred the specimens of

the R dugritei complex from northern Vietnam to R

puerensis The specimens differ from R puerensis by

the larger size (SVL of males 60.3–61.5 mm vs 32–47

mm), and the more developed webbing on the first toe

of the specimens reaching to base of disc (versus the

webbing ending between the subarticular tubercle and

intercalary cartilage of the first toe of R puerensis, see

Liu, 1950, Bain and Nguyen, 2004)

Rhacophorus feae Boulenger, 1893

Brown-folded Treefrog / Ech cay phe (Fig 3)

Specimen examined (n = 1): photographic record

only

Distribution: Vietnam: Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Kon Tum,

Dak Lak, and Dong Nai provinces (Nguyen et al.,

2009)

Morphological features of photographed specimen:

Photographs of the individual resembled Rhacophorus

feae in the following attributes: Fingers and toes with

large discs and well webbed

Coloration in life: Dorsal surface uniformly green; a

golden stripe running from tip of snout, along to canthus

rostralis, border of upper eyelid, and supratympanic

fold to shoulder; webbing whitish (identification after

Boulenger, 1893 and Orlov et al., 2012)

Rhacophorus robertingeri Orlov, Poyarkov,

Vassilieva, Ananjeva, Nguyen, Nguyen and Geissler,

2012

Robert Tree frog / Ech cay ro-bot-in-go (Fig 3)

Specimen examined (n = 1): adult female (ZFMK

95480)

Distribution: Vietnam: in Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang,

Quang Nam, Kon Tum, and Gia Lai provinces (Orlov

et al., 2012)

Morphological features of examined specimen: SVL

40.3 mm; head as long as wide; snout pointed; eye

large, its diameter about 0.76 times of snout length;

interorbital space 1.5 times of upper eyelid width;

tympanum visible, with a diameter smaller than half

of eye diameter; supratympanic fold distinct; tips of fingers and toes enlarged to discs; fingers and toes well webbed, finger webbing formula: I2–2½II1½–2½III2– 1½IV and toe webbing formula: I1½–2II1–2½III1–1IV1–1V; tibiotarsal articulation with a long pointed projection; dermal appendage at vent present; skin smooth dorsally and granular ventrally

Coloration in life: Dorsal head, body, and limbs yellow brown; a darker cross-bar present between eyes; posterior part of dorsum with some darker patches or bars; side of head yellow brown; eye with golden iris and horizontal black pupil; transverse bars on limbs present; webbings whitish (identification followed Orlov et al., 2012)

Remarks: Nostrils located midway between tip of

snout and eye (versus nostrils closer to tip of snout than to eye, see Orlov et al., 2012) Orlov et al (2012) also reidentified the Vietnamese specimens that

were formerly regarded as Rhacophorus calcaneus Smith, 1924, as a distinct species, R robertingeri and simultaneously synonymized Rhacophorus chuyangsinensis Orlov, Nguyen, and Ho, 2008 with

R calcaneus The IUCN Red List status of this species should be “Near Threatened” as that of the former R calcaneus

Squamata: Sauria Gekkonidae

Gekko cf palmatus Boulenger, 1907

Palm Gecko / Tac ke chan vit (Fig 4)

Specimen examined (n = 1): photographic record

only

Distribution: Vietnam: Yen Bai, Lang Son, Vinh Phuc,

Quang Ninh, and Quang Binh provinces Elsewhere: China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia (Nguyen et al., 2009, Uetz, 2013)

Morphological features of photographed specimen:

The photograph of this gecko largely resembles Gekko palmatus in the following characters: tubercles present

on dorsum; one pair of dark, roundish or somewhat enlarged spots in the occipital region; smaller, but more distinct dark spots in the nuchal region and light broken middorsal stripe evident on body (identification based

on Ziegler et al., 2006a and Nguyen et al., 2013b)