Microhyla cf. mukhlesuri Hasan, Islam, Kuramoto, Kurabayashi & Sumida, 2014

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, Zootaxa 5287 (1), pp. 1-378 : 48-49

Microhyla cf. mukhlesuri Hasan, Islam, Kuramoto, Kurabayashi & Sumida, 2014 — Non-native; Established.

Microhyla mukhlesuri Hasan, Islam, Kuramoto, Kurabayashi & Sumida, 2014: 408 . Holotype: IABHU 3956, by original designation. Type locality: “Raozan, Chittagong (22º 35’N, 91º 55’E,> 9 m asl.), Bangladesh ” .

Mukhlesur’s Chorus Frog

( Figure 6D )

Singapore records.

Microhyla fissipes (non Boulenger, 1884)—N. Lim, 2006: 6 (Pulau Tekong).—N.T.-L. Lim et al., 2006: 101 (Pulau Tekong).—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 65, 165.—D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 32.—T.M. Leong & K.K.P. Lim, 2011: 140.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 65, 165.—T.H. Ng & D.C.J. Yeo, 2012: 95, 96–97.— Manthey & Denzer, 2014: 11.— Hasan et al., 2015: 72.—I.S. Law, 2015: 30 (Nanyang Technological University).—I.S. Law & Groenewoud, 2015b: 63.—R. Subaraj et al., 2016: 30 (Lorong Halus Wetland).—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2016: 174 (Pulau Tekong).—D.T. Le et al., 2021: 319.—B.C. Ng, 2021: 136 (Pang Sua Woodland).

Microhyla cf. mukhlesuri —Sankar et al., 2022: 465 (Kranji Marshes).

Remarks. In a fairly recent publication, Yuan et al. (2016) demonstrated that the Red River in China and Vietnam acts as a biogeographic barrier for M. fissipes , and redescribed populations south of the Red River as M. mukhlesuri . Prior to this, Matsui et al. (2005) redescribed M. ornata from Taiwan and southern China south to northern Peninsular Malaysia as M. fissipes . Thus, M. fissipes from northern Peninsular Malaysia correspond to M. mukhlesuri . In 2004, frogs identified as M. fissipes were first recorded in Endau-Rompin National Park and then again in 2005 (Wood et al. 2008). Unknown in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia, M. fissipes was regarded as introduced ( Daicus & Hashim 2004). Likewise, on 3 August 2005 five adult males and seven tadpoles of M. fissipes were collected from Pulau Tekong ( Lim et al. 2006; Lim et al. 2016). Ten years later, on 14 February 2015, the first record for Singapore Island was made at NTU (Law 2015). Nowadays, this species is well-established and is found throughout Singapore (A. Figueroa, unpubl. data). The extent of its distribution in southern Peninsular Malaysia remains unknown, and as of yet, the populations in southern Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore have not been examined to determine if they represent M. fissipes , M. mukhlesuri , or some other member of the M. fissipes complex. However, preliminary field identification of specimens in Singapore key out to M. mukhlesuri (A. Figueroa pers. obs.). Until the taxonomic status of these populations is established, it is difficult to trace the species introduction pathway. However, we envision that M. mukhlesuri made its way to southern Peninsular Malaysia from the north, then to Pulau Tekong where it may have reached as a stowaway via ornamental plants or cargo (Ng & Yeo 2012). Since Pulau Tekong currently serves as a military base, M. mukhlesuri may have reached Singapore Island by hitchhiking on military personnel frequenting the island or paraphernalia being transported back and forth. As such, we conditionally recognise the populations in Singapore as M. cf. mukhlesuri . Similar to the other three species of Microhyla in Singapore, cryptic diversity was also uncovered in M. cf. mukhlesuri ( Gorin et al. 2020) . Thus, if the populations in Singapore do belong to M. mukhlesuri , then future investigations into M. mukhlesuri may show yet a different taxonomic designation for the species that colonised Singapore.

Given its small size, secretive lifestyle within leaf-litter, and superficial resemblance to native M. cf. butleri , M. cf. mukhlesuri may have gone undetected for some time. At the time of Ng & Yeo’s (2012) publication, M. mukhlesuri was only known from Pulau Tekong; thus, the authors believed it would not compete with native microhylids. However, given that M. cf. mukhlesuri is now widespread and common throughout Singapore, and that at many locales it is the dominant microhylid, we designate M. cf. mukhlesuri an invasive species.

Occurrence. Ubiquitous. Common.

Singapore conservation status. Not Applicable.

Conservation priority. None, non-native species.

IUCN conservation status. Not Evaluated.

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Pulau Tekong: ZRC.1.11543– ZRC. 1.11554 (03-Aug-2005); Venus Drive [ WNP] : ZRC.1.13132– ZRC.1.13133 (2017); Venus Loop [ WNP]: ZRC.1.12531– ZRC.1.12532 (17-Jun-2016) .

Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens.

Singapore localities. Kranji Marshes—Lorong Halus Wetland—Nanyang Technological University Jurong Campus—Pang Sua Woodland—Pulau Tekong—Windsor Nature Park.

Figures

FIGURE 6. A) Microhyla cf. butleri, B) Microhyla cf. heymonsi, C) Microhyla mantheyi, D) Microhyla cf. mukhlesuri, E) Micryletta subaraji, F) Chalcorana labialis, G) Hylarana erythraea, and H) Pulchrana baramica. Photographs by: Kelvin K.P. Lim [A–B, G], Alex Figueroa [C–D, F], and Law Ing Thong [E, H].