Sylvirana guentheri (Boulenger, 1882)

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 : 56-57

Sylvirana guentheri (Boulenger, 1882) — Non-native; Established.

Rana guentheri Boulenger, 1882: 48 . Syntypes (3): BMNH 1876.3.14.1–2 and BMNH unnumbered, by original designation. Type locality: “Amoy” (= Xiamen ), China and “ China ”; later restricted to “Amoy” (= Xiamen), China by Gee & Boring (1929: 29).

Guenther’s Frog

( Figure 7B ; Tengah Forest)

Singapore records.

Hylarana guentheri —S.H. Chan & C. Goh, 2010: 110 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).—T.M. Leong, 2011: 21.—T.M. Leong & K.K.P. Lim, 2011: 135–141 (Jurong Bird Park; Jurong Central Park; Lim Chu Kang Lane 3 [LCK]; Lim Chu Kang Lane 8 [LCK]; Lim Chu Kang Road [LCK]; Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).—T.H. Ng & D.C.J. Yeo, 2012: 95, 98–99.—K.K.P. Lim & B.C. Ng, 2015: 26 (Botanic Gardens).—S.M. Chong et al., 2018: 253, 254.—Wei et al., 2019: 129, 131.— Allain & Goodman, 2020: 217 ( Singapore Botanic Gardens [Evolution Garden]).

Remarks. Native from central Vietnam to southern China and Taiwan (Frost 2017), S. guentheri was first documented in Singapore in 2010 at SBWR based on its call ( Chan & Goh 2010). However, S. guentheri was apparently known from at least 1997 from Jurong Bird Park also based on its call, and separately from a photograph taken on 10 May 2008 ( Leong & Lim 2011). Presently, S. guentheri is well-established, common, and widespread throughout western and central Singapore (Ng & Yeo 2012; Lim & Ng 2015). Leong & Lim (2011) and Ng & Yeo (2012) suggested that S. guentheri arrived from southern China as stowaways in ornamental plants, ornamental fishes, or with food. As of now, S. guentheri is restricted to urban areas and does not appear to be invasive; however, S. guentheri is known to have toxic secretions that may prove lethal to other frogs or predators, and it is also host of the parasitic roundworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis , which can cause angiostrongyliasis in humans if they consume raw or undercooked intermediate hosts of this parasite, such as freshwater snails, crustaceans, or frogs (Ng & Yeo 2012).

Occurrence. Wide-ranging. Common.

Singapore conservation status. Not Applicable.

Conservation priority. None, non-native species.

IUCN conservation status. Least Concern [2022].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Khoo Teck Phuat Hospital : ZRC.1.12481 (28-Feb-2012); Lim Chu Kang : ZRC.1.12477– ZRC.1.12478 (no date), ZRC.1.12420 (03-Feb-2008) , ZRC.1.12485 (11-Jan-2012) , ZRC.1.13088– ZRC.1.13089 (27-Jun-2012) , ZRC.1.13138– ZRC.1.13145 (01-Apr-2018); Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve : ZRC.1.12512– ZRC.1.12514 (05-Nov-2014) .

Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens.

Singapore localities. Khoo Teck Phuat Hospital—Jurong Bird Park—Jurong Central Park—Lim Chu Kang— Singapore Botanic Gardens—Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve—Tengah Forest.

Figures

FIGURE 7. A) Pulchrana laterimaculata, B) Sylvirana guentheri, C) Leptomantis cyanopunctatus, D) Nyctixalus pictus, E) Polypedates leucomystax, F) Theloderma horridum, G) Crocodylus porosus, and H) Caretta caretta. Photographs by: Alex Figueroa [A–B, D–F], Marcus A.H. Chua [C], Jensen G.H. Seah [G], and Kelvin K.P. Lim [H].