Rana lini Chou, 1999
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https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.5342868 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/35312B58-FF84-FFC5-202E-FC38FF58E470 |
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treatment provided by |
Diego |
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scientific name |
Rana lini Chou, 1999 |
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Rana lini Chou, 1999 View in CoL
( Figs. 2 View Fig , 3 View Fig and 4 View Fig )
Rana lini Chou, 1999: 301 View in CoL . [Holotype: NMNS 3258, by original designation. Type-locality: Jiangcheng Co., 8 km N Jiangcheng, Simao Prefecture , Yunnan Province, China.]
Material examined. – China: Yunnan Province, Honghe Perfecture, Luchun (NMNS 3168 (7325, 7326, 7330, 7341) . Laos: Xieng Khouang Province, Pek District , Phonsavan Market (FMNH 256531–532) . Thailand: Loei Province, Phu Rue District , Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary (FMNH 262578–579, THNHM 08711–716) . Phetchabun Province, Nakhon Thai District, Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park (THNHM 13113–118) .
Taxonomic notes. — Rana lini was described by Chou (1999) based on specimens collected from Simao and Honghe Perfectures , Yunnan Province ( China). Seven specimens from Simao Perfecture were designated as holotype (NMNS 3258) and paratypes (NMNS 3190-1 to NMNS 3190-7). Remaining five specimens from Honghe Perfecture (NMNS 3168-1 to NMNS 3168-5) were designated to the “referred specimens”. In this study, we examined four specimens from Honghe Perfecture as in specimens studied .
In the original description of Rana lini by Chou (1999), some morphological characters are confusing and do not agree with our examination. Chou’s (1999: 391) Table 1 provided several comparisons of morphological, acoustical, and behavioral characters of frogs of the subgenus Nidirana . Of those, there are two characters (vocal sacs and dermal fold width of 2 nd and 3 rd fingers) which differ from our observations. The vocal sacs were defined by Chou (1999) in two states: distinct and indistinct. We also defined this character in two states but in different terms (present and absent). If present, the skin of throat at the corner of lower jaw has wrinkled skin or pouches but if absent, the skin does not have such structures. Chou (1999) observed vocal sacs in R. chapaensis , R. daunchina and R. okinavana (as R. psaltes ) as indistinct but we observed this character as present (as wrinkled skin) except in R. okinavana . Chou (1999) observed presence of inner and outer dermal fold on second and third fingers of all Nidirana species. We observed such a skin fold only on the inner sides of second and third fingers. The dermal fold along lateral edge of 5 th toe was observed by Chou (1999) as indistinct in R. chapaensis , R. daunchina and R. okinavana (as R. psaltes ). We observed this character as present in those three species. Chou’s (1999: 391) Table 1 listed the dermal fold along lateral margin of 5 th toe in R. chapaensis as indistinct but in his key to species ( Chou, 1999: 398), this species was placed in the group of species which have evident or distinct dermal fold along lateral margin of 5 th toe.
As mentioned above, the confusion of some observed characters between the first description ( Chou, 1999) and this study lead us to make the description based on the specimen from Thailand as below.
Diagnostic characters. – Rana lini is characterized by the following combination of characters: (1) body elongated; (2) SVL of adult males 53.7 ± 4.1 (44.1–57.9 mm), adult females 59 ± 1.6 (57.7–60.7 mm); (3) nostril directed laterally; (4) marginal grooves on fingers present or absent; (5) marginal grooves on toes present; (6) mid-dorsal stripe present; (7) external vocal sac present; (8) nuptial pad present on thumb and first finger, formed as one pad; (9) suprabrachial gland present and large; (10) nest construction behavior absent; (11) spinules on back present on posterior half of back in adult males; (12) spinules on ventrum present in adult males; (13) tibio-tarsal articulation beyond snout; (14) finger tips dilated; (15) toe tips dilated; (16) relative length of fingers II<I<IV<III; (17) relative length of toes I<II<V<III<IV; (18) pigmented eggs; (19) larval keratodont formula 1:1+1/1+1:2; (20) Calling: 5-7 loud “goo-goo-…” notes.
Description of specimen. – THNHM 13117 (field no. Y 0261), an adult male, Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, Nakhon Thai District, Phetchabun Province, northeastern Thailand. The specimen was collected by Y. Chuaynkern and Permsak Kanishthajata in 17 Jul.2006.
Size and general aspect. – (1) Frog of moderate size (SVL 56.7 mm), body slender.
Head. – (2) Head of moderate size, widely ovate in dorsal view; longer than wide (HW 17.8 mm; HL 23.5 mm; MN 18.8 mm; MFE 14.9 mm; MBE 9.1 mm), flat above. (3) Snout acuminate in dorsal and lateral views, slightly protruding, its length (SL 9.7 mm) longer than horizontal diameter of eye (EL 6.4 mm). (4) Canthus rostralis rounded, loreal region concave, vertical in cross section. (5) Interorbital space flat, wider (IUE 5.2 mm) than upper eyelid (UEW 4.0 mm) and narrower than internarial distance (IN 6.0 mm); distance between front of eyes (IFE 9.4 mm) 1.3 times in distance between back of eyes (IBE 12.2 mm). (6) Nostrils oval, directed posterodorsally, with flap of skin laterally, closer to tip of snout (NS 4.7 mm) than to eye (EN 5.3 mm). (7) Pupil elliptical, horizontal. (8) Tympanum (TYD 5.7 mm) distinct, horizontally oval, 87% of eye diameter; tympanumeye distance (TYE 2.2 mm) 39% of tympanum diameter. (9) Pineal ocellus present, in middle point between anterior borders of eyelids. (10) Vomerine ridge present, bearing numerous small teeth (N= 8 in each side); with an angle of 45° to body axis, closer to choanae than each other, as long as distance between them. (11) Tongue large, cordate; emarginated, bearing no median lingual process. Tooth-like projections on lower jaw absent.
Forelimbs. – (12) Arm short and thin; forearm (FLL 12.4 mm) shorter than hand (HAL 15.1 mm); not enlarged. (13) Finger I and II short and thin; finger III (TFL 9.29 mm) and IV long and thin. (14) Relative length of fingers: I=II<IV<III. (15) Tips of fingers rounded, not enlarged with lateroventral grooves on finger II, III and IV (without the groove on finger I), slightly wide compared to finger width (fd1 0.9 mm, fw1 0.9 mm; fd2 1.1 mm, fw2 1.1 mm; fd3 1.1 mm, fw3 1.0 mm; fd4 1.2 mm, fw4 1.1 mm). (16) Fingers with dermal fringe on inner side of finger II and III; webbing on fingers absent. (17) Subarticular tubercles prominent rounded or oval, single, all present. (18) Prepollex distinct, oval; two distinct palmar tubercles, larger inner elliptic and smaller outer narrowly elliptic; supernumerary tubercles absent.
Hind limbs. – (19) Hind limbs long; heels overlapping when limbs are folded at right angles to body; tibio-tarsal articulation beyond tip of snout; tibia 4.2 times longer (TL 33.3 mm) than wide (TW 7.9 mm), longer than thigh (FL 30.0 mm) and shorter than distance from base of internal metatarsal tubercle to tip of toe IV (FOL 34.2 mm). (20) Toes long and thin, toe IV (FTL 21.3 mm) 2.3 times distance from base of tarsus to tip of toe IV (TFOL 48.5 mm). (21) Relative length of toes: I<II<III=V<IV. (22) Tips of all toes rounded, enlarged; disks present on toes I-II-III-IV-V, with distinct latero-ventral grooves, rather wide compared to toe width (td1 1.4 mm, tw1 0.9 mm; td2 1.5 mm, tw2 0.9 mm; td3 1.5 mm, tw3 0.8 mm; td4 1.2 mm, tw4 0.8 mm; td5 1.2 mm, tw5 0.8 mm). (23) Webbing present, moderate: I 1½ - 1 II 1 - 23 / 2 III 1½ - 2 IV 2½ - 1 V (WTF 5.2 mm, WFF 6.6 mm; WI 4.1 mm, WII 5.2 mm; MTTF 14.8 mm, MTFF 15.8 mm, FTTF 17.1 mm, FFTF 15.4 mm). (24) Dermal fringe along toe V present: from tip of toe beyond the first subarticular tubercle until 1/3 of distance between OMT and first subarticular tubercle. (25) Subarticular tubercle prominent, oval or rounded, simple, all present. (26) Inner metatarsal tubercle distinct, elliptic, it length (IMT 2.9 mm) 2.9 times in length of toe I (ITL 8.3 mm). (27) Tarsal folds absent. (28) Outer metatarsal tubercle present, small, rounded; supernumerary tubercles absent; tarsal tubercle absent.
Skin. – (29) Snout, between eyes, side of head and anterior part of back smooth; posterior part of back smooth with densely scatter horny spinules; upper part of flank, to line from insertion of arm to groin granular topped with horny spinules; lower part of flank to line from insertion of arm to groin smooth. (30) Dorso-lateral folds present, flat and narrow, from back of eye to above groin; supratympanic fold absent; parotoid glands absent; cephalic ridges absent; co-ossified skin absent. (31) Dorsal parts of forelimb, thigh and tarsus smooth with few horny spinules, while dense in dorsal part of leg; upper part of foot and toes smooth. (32) Throat, chest, belly and ventral part of anterior part of thighs smooth; posterior part of thigh around vent with tree frog belly skin. (33) Macroglands: distinct rictal gland in posterior corner of mouth; supra-brachial gland present, large nearly rhomboid shape (left: maximum length 12.8 mm, maximum width 7.8 mm; right: maximum length 14.4 mm, maximum width 7.9 mm) from behind 2 nd rectal gland to the middle of body; humeral gland absent.
Colouration (in alcohol). – (34) Dorsal parts of head and dorsum brown with creamy stripe from tip of snout to near vent (not reaching above vent), and creamy stripes along inner dorsolateral fold from posterior of eyes to nearly vent, black spots on posterior part of back, denser near vent; upper part of flank brown with black stripe along outer part of dorsolateral fold from posterior of eye to nearly vent, lower part of flank creamy with dark mottled; supra-brachial gland covered with dark fine melanin dots and with dark spot near lower edge of gland; loreal region brown with black stripe from tip of snout across nostril to anterior border of eye, tympanum brown; upper lip pale brown with white stripe running above upper lip from tip of snout to rectal glands; dorsolateral fold brown in inner part and black in outer part. (35) Dorsal part of forelimb creamy brown with black oblique crossbars; dorsal part of thigh, tibia, and tarsus creamy brown with narrow black oblique crossbars; posterior part of thigh cream with black vermiculation. (36) Throat, vocal sac, chest, belly and tibia cream, margin of throat cream with feebly creamy brown spots; anterior part of thigh cream and posterior part creamy yellow; tarsus cream with few brown pigmented; webbing on both sides brown.
Colouration in life. – Dorsal parts of head and back brown with creamy vertebral stripe from tip of snout to nearly vent (broken in posterior part of back before vent), and creamy stripes along inner side of dorsolateral folds from tip of snout to nearly vent, black spots on posterior part of back, more densely set near vent; upper flank yellowish brown with black stripe extended from posterior eyelid to groin, few black spots above area of supra-branchial gland, supra-branchial gland yellowish brown with feebly dark vermiculation; lower part of flank light yellowish brown with grey vermiculation, more distinguished in posterior of lower flank; loreal region brown with black stripe from tip of snout across nostril to anterior border of eye; tympanum brown and tympanum region yellow; upper lip yellow with few creamy white spots, creamy white stripe from tip of snout to mouth corner, lower lip yellow with creamy white spots; dorsolateral fold whitish brown in inner part and black in outer part. Dorsal part of forelimb brown with two dark brown oblique bands on upper arm and three on lower arm; dorsal part of thigh brown with dark brown oblique crossbars; dorsal part of tibia pale brown with five to six dark brown bands on anterior part; tarsus pale brown with three feeble dark brown bands; dorsal part of foot brown; posterior part of thigh with yellowish brown and dark brown labyrinthine blotches arranged in a longitudinal way on upper portion and with gray vermiculation in lower portion. Throat, chest, anterior belly and ventral part of forearm creamy white, posterior belly creamy yellow, ventral part of thigh pinkish and reddish, tibia and tarsus creamy yellow.
Male secondary characters. – (37) A single nuptial pad present (not separated into two pads), covering lateral surface of thumb and edge of prepollex continued to covering dorsal surface of finger I to level of distal edge of subarticular tubercle; cream coloured spines. (38) Vocal sacs present, distinct on throat; a pair of slit-like openings at posterior of jaw. (39) Other secondary sexual characters: humeral glands absent, suprabrachial gland present.
Natural history notes. – The specimens from Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park (Nakhon Thai District, Phetchabun Province) were caught in a permanent pond (location 47 Q 0714929 UTM 1878834, 1,300 m asl) which has drainage conduit to move out water from the pond ( Fig. 5 View Fig ). The frogs were sitting on water plants and calling. Several frogs from Man Daeng Protected Unit (location 47 Q 0718477 UTM 1872542, 1,647 m asl) were sitting on the bank of an artificial pond and were also calling. The calls of the frogs were heard in the daytime also. Specimens from Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary (Phu Rue District, Loei Province) were caught in Pine forest at approximately 1,500 m asl. These frogs are not utilized for food.
Distribution. – China (Yunnan Province); Laos (Xieng Khoaung Province); Thailand (Loei and Phetchabun provinces).
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