Hylarana erythraea (Schlegel, 1837)

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 : 52-54

Hylarana erythraea (Schlegel, 1837) — Native.

Hyla erythraea Schlegel, 1837: 27 , pl. 9, fig. 3. Syntypes (18): RMNH. RENA.1744 (4), 1746 (9), and 1749 from Sumatra, RMNH. RENA.4265 and MNHN 4570–4572 from Java, according to Gassó Miracle et al. (2007: 43); Bauer (2016: 93) suggested ZMB 4463 as a doubtful syntype as “Banca” not included as type locality. Type locality: “...in Java, und neuerdings von M̧ller in Sumatra…” (= Java and Sumatra), Indonesia.

Green Paddy Frog

( Figure 6G )

Singapore records.

Rana erythraea — Flower, 1896: 902–903 (Botanic Gardens; “low-lying fields up the Singapore River”; Tanglin [= TF]; Thomson Road).— Hanitsch, 1898: 8.—A.L. Butler, 1904: 198 (Botanic Gardens).—Hanitsch, 1908: 47.— Boulenger, 1912: 241.— Hanitsch, 1912b: 18.—van Kampen, 1923: 222–223.—D.S. Johnson, 1964: 28.— Inger, 1966: 183–184.—J.S. Sullivan & J.J. Sullivan, 1976: 494.—K. Lim, 1988b: 6 (MacRitchie Reservoir [MR]; Nee Soon [NSSF]).—K. Lim, 1988f: 78 (Botanic Gardens).—K. Lim, 1989a: 5 (Senoko).—K.K.P. Lim, 1989a: 56 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.K.P. Lim & C.M. Yang, 1991: 224 (Botanic Gardens; Bukit Timah Rifle Range [RRNP]; Bukit Timah University Pond [NUS]; Jalan Bongkok Kechil; Jurong; Nee Soon Swamp Forest; Pasir Panjang;Peirce Reservoir; Sime Road Forest;Sungei Khatib Bongsu).—D.S. Johnson, 1992: 39.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 32, 144.—P.K.L. Ng, 1992a: 139.—P.K.L. Ng, 1992b: 139.—Wee, 1992: 73 (Lower Peirce Reservoir Park).—E.K. Chua, 1993: 122.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 93.—L.M. Chou, 1995: 146.—R. Subaraj, 1995: 36 (Pulau Ubin).—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 399.—Chan-ard et al., 1999: 17.—T.M. Leong & L.M. Chou, 1999: 106–108.—T.M. Leong, 2000: 2.—K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim 2002.— Anonymous, 2003: 32, 93 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).— Das & Haas, 2005: 380.—Bickford et al., 2010: 122, 123.—E.K. Chua, 2010: 101 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).—T.M. Leong, 2011: 22.

Rana erythraeus — Harrison & Tham, 1973: 254.

Hylarana erythraea —N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 63, 158.—T.M. Leong et al., 2009: 361–364 ( Singapore Zoo).—Sheridan, 2009: 583–592 ( Singapore Zoo).—Al-Ghaferi et al., 2010: 548.—S.H. Chan & C. Goh, 2010: 107 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).—Sheridan et al., 2010: 369–379 ( Singapore Zoo).—Zainudin et al., 2010: 688.—L.L. Grismer, 2011a: 72.—T.M. Leong & K.K.P. Lim, 2011: 140.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 332.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 63, 159.—R. Subaraj, 2015: 19, 32, 56 (Mandai Range Forest; Project Western Boundary [= MBP]; Singapore Zoo).—S. Subaraj, 2015: 5, 6 (Mandai Range Forest; Project Western Boundary [= MBP]; Singapore Zoo).—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2016: 173 (Pulau Tekong).—S.M. Chong et al., 2018: 253.—Goldberg et al., 2017: 229.—R. Tan & M.-R. Low, 2018: 40.—H.C. Ho et al., 2019: 125 (Alexandra Woodlands).— Luong et al., 2019: 381.—H.T.W. Tan et al., 2019: 132 (Kent Ridge Park; National University of Singapore Kent Ridge Campus).—R.C.H. Teo & Thomas, 2019: 152, 179 (Catchment Pond [BTNR]).—Nandia & Nugraha, 2022: 26.

Remarks. Hylarana erythraea was first reported from Singapore by Flower (1896) who found it “excessively numerous” at several locations including SBG and Tanglin; however, NMW has two specimens that were collected before 1870 (NMW-3257). Butler (1903) also described H. erythraea as common at SBG, and Hanitsch (1908) stated that it and F. limnocharis are the most common frogs in Singapore. Similar to C. labialis , H. erythraea was not reported again from Singapore until 56 years later when Johnson (1964) also noted that it was a common species. For unknown reasons, nowadays the population size of H. erythraea appears to be dwindling.

Occurrence. Wide-ranging. Uncommon. This species appears to be declining in numbers.

Singapore conservation status. Least Concern.

Conservation priority. Moderate.

IUCN conservation status. Least Concern [2022].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality) : BMNH 1896.6.25.72–75 (no date), BMNH 1956.1.9.13–17 (no date), ZRC.1.12460– ZRC.1.12466 (no date), ZRC.1.558 (1895); Botanic Gardens : ZRC.1.559 (Mar-1913) , ZRC.1.560– ZRC. 1.579 (05-Mar-1913); Bukit Kalang [ SRF] : ZRC . 1.3380 (Aug-1996); Bukit Timah Campus [ NUS] : ZRC.1.2817 (1974), ZRC.1.2223– ZRC.1.2226 (09-Oct-1974); Bukit Timah Rifle Range [= Temasek Club] : ZRC.1.1323 (07-Mar-1976); Jalan Bongkok Kechil [= likely refers to Jalan Jurong Kechil] : ZRC.1.1424– ZRC.1.1425 (28-Oct-1974); Jurong : ZRC.1.1421– ZRC.1.1423 (28-Feb-1970); Lower Peirce Forest : ZRC. 1.10525 (14-Mar-2003); Mandai Orchid Garden [= MBP] : ZRC.1.12538 (23-Mar-2006) , ZRC.1.12559 (11-May-2006); Nee Soon Swamp Forest : ZRC.1.1660 (Dec-1988) , ZRC.1.4225– ZRC.1.4228 (Apr-1994) , ZRC.1.3381 (20-Sep-1996) , ZRC.1.3382 (31-Oct-1996); Peirce Reservoir : ZRC.1.1426– ZRC.1.1437 (09-Dec-1974); Sime Road Forest : ZRC.1.4416– ZRC.1.4418 (20-Apr-1994); Singapore Zoo : ZRC.1.12430 (16-Jul-2009); Mandai Lake Road : ZRC.1.13037 (06-Dec-2006) , ZRC.1.13036 (02-Feb-2007) , ZRC.1.13038 (16-Feb-2007) , ZRC.1.13039– ZRC.1.13040 (23-Feb-2007) , ZRC.1.13041– ZRC.1.13042 (12-Mar-2007); Pasir Panjang : ZRC.1.580– ZRC.1.581 (07-Aug-1931); St. George’s Road : ZRC.1.11003 (10-Apr-1927); Sungei Seletar : ZRC. 1.3379 (13-Jul-1993); Upper Thomson [ TNP] : ZRC.1.12552– ZRC.1.12553 (08-May-2006) .

Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): FMNH, NMW, UIMNH, UMZC; Botanic Gardens: BPBM, CAS; Bukit Timah: ZMH; Nee Soon Rifle Range [= NSSF]: BPBM; University of Malaya [= NUS Bukit Timah]: BPBM.

Singapore localities. Alexandra Woodlands—Jalan Jurong Kechil—Jurong—Kent Ridge Park—Lower Peirce Forest—Lower Peirce Reservoir Park—MacRitchie Reservoir—Mandai Bird Park—Mandai Lake Road— Mandai Range Forest—National University of Singapore Bukit Timah Campus*—National University of Singapore Kent Ridge Campus—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Pasir Panjang—Peirce Reservoir (not specified)—Pulau Tekong—Pulau Ubin—Rifle Range Nature Park—Senoko—Sime Road Forest— Singapore Botanic Gardens*—Singapore River (low-lying fields)—Singapore Zoo—St. George’s Road*— Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve—Sungei Khatib Bongsu—Sungei Seletar—Tyersall Forest—Temasek Club*—Thomson Nature Park—Thomson Road.

Genus Pulchrana Dubois, 1992 (2 species)

Rana (Pulchrana) Dubois, 1992: 326 (type species: Polypedates signatus Ģnther, 1872 , by original designation; gender feminine).

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].