Pelobatrachus nasutus (Schlegel, 1858)

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 : 40-42

Pelobatrachus nasutus (Schlegel, 1858) — Native.

Ceratophryne nasuta Schlegel, 1858: 57 . Syntypes (2): RMNH.RENA.2143 (2), according to Gassó Miracle et al. (2007: 35). Type locality: None stated/traced; later designated as “Patang-Singalang, Sumatra ” (= Batang Singalang, Sumatra, Indonesia) by Gassó Miracle et al. (2007: 35).

Malayan Horned Frog

( Figure 5F )

Singapore records.

Megalophrys nasuta — Blanford, 1881: 216.— Flower, 1896: 913.— Flower, 1900: 913 (Bukit Timah [BTNR]).— Butler, 1904: 399.—Hanitsch, 1908: 48.— Boulenger, 1912: 279–280.— Hanitsch, 1912b: 19.—van Kampen, 1923: 10–13.

Megophrys nasuta — Bourret, 1942: 197.—D.S. Johnson, 1964: 29, 55.— Choo-Toh et al., 1985: 128 (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve).—K. Lim, 1988d: 51 (Mandai Lake Road [“zoo’s plant nursery”).—K. Lim, 1988f: 77 (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve).—K. Lim, 1989g: 41 (Jungle Fall Valley [BTNR]).—K. Lim, 1989h: 65 (Jungle Fall Valley [BTNR]).—K. Lim, 1990b: 12 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).— K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.K.P. Lim & C.M. Yang, 1991: 219 (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve; Jungle Fall Valley [BTNR]); Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—D.S. Johnson, 1992: 41, 75.— K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 20, 143.—P.K.L. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 1992: 260 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—E.K. Chua, 1993: 52.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 93.—K.K.P. Lim, 1994a: 330.—K. Lim, 1995: 19 (Chestnut Track [CTF]; Mandai Forest Track [NSSF]).—P.K.L. Ng et al., 1995: 114.—Inger, 1996: 554.—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 395 (Chestnut Track Forest; Fern Valley [BTNR]; Jungle Fall & Seraya Valleys [BNTR]; Nee Soon East [NSSF]; Nee Soon South [NSSF]; Taban & Lasia Valleys [BTNR]; Tiup Tiup [BTNR]).—Chan-ard et al., 1999: 15.—T.M. Leong & L.M. Chou, 1999: 89–90.—K.P. Lim & F.L.K., 2002: 143.— Das & Haas, 2005: 379.—K.K.P. Lim & T.M. Leong, 2008: 157, 264.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 55, 158.—Bickford et al., 2010: 121.—D.C.J. Yeo et al., 2010: 159.—L.L. Grismer, 2011a: 40.—T.M. Leong, 2011: 21, 22.—T.M. Leong & Gan, 2011: 22.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 343.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 55, 158.— L.K. Wang et al., 2012: 121, 186.—Selveindran, 2014: 49–53 (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve; Central Catchment Nature Reserve).—E.K. Chua, 2015: 98.—R.C.H. Teo & Thomas, 2019: 150, 179 (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve).—E.K. Chua, 2022: 41 (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve).

Megophrys aceras (non-Boulenger, 1903)—D.S. Johnson, 1964: 29, 55.—D.S. Johnson, 1992: 41.

Megophrys monticola nasuta — Inger, 1966: 39–46 (Bukit Timah [BTNR]).—L.M. Chou, 1995: 145.

Megophrys monticola (non-Kuhl & van Hasselt, 1822)—W.K. Tan, 1992: 50.

Megophyrs [sic] nasuta —W. Wong, 2017: 53.

Remarks. Selveindran (2014) indicated that P. nasutus numbers are declining in Singapore as its presence was confirmed at only three of nine historical sites and that overall population size was estimated at fewer than 250 mature adults. Undoubtedly, loss and degradation of suitable habitat (i.e., mature tropical forest with swift-flowing, rocky streams) threatens its survival. Blanford (1881) first reported P. nasutus from Singapore from a specimen he examined from Dennys at the Raffles Museum. Flower (1899 a) pointed out that the specimen was collected at BTNR. No new observations of P. nasutus were reported until 60 years after Butler (1904) mentioned that Ridley told him that P. nasutus was not rare in Singapore. This was when Johnson (1964) expressed the opinion that tadpoles are common in streams of BTNR. Early specimens were mainly taken from BTNR as expressed by Hanitsch (1908), and by Inger (1966) who examined six specimens. According to the FMNH database, the specimens were collected by Davis in 1959. No new observations of P. nasutus were reported until Lim (1988d) mentioned seeing one individual at the Singapore Zoo’s plant nursery on Mandai Lake Road, which also represents the first record outside of BTNR. Given its nocturnal behaviour and distribution within CNR, is P. nasutus seldom reported. During the comprehensive BTNR surveys, Teo & Thomas (2019) reported 26 records.

Occurrence. Restricted to CNR. Uncommon.

Singapore conservation status. Critically Endangered.

Conservation priority. Highest.

IUCN conservation status. Least Concern [2021].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve : ZRC.1.11007– ZRC.1.11009 (1889), ZRC.1.1543 (05-Aug-1974) , ZRC.1. 1267 (28-Dec-1977) , ZRC.1.1553 (12-Nov-1988) , ZRC.1.1522– ZRC.1.1523 (22-Nov-1986) , ZRC.1.3410 (18-Oct-1996) , ZRC.1.3464 (Nov-1996) ; Nee Soon Swamp Forest : ZRC.1.2930 (30-Oct-1990) .

Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): FMNH; Bukit Timah Nature Reserve: BPBM; Mandai Road: BPBM; Nee Soon Swamp [= NSSF]: BPBM.

Singapore localities. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve—Chestnut Track Forest—Mandai Lake Road*—Mandai Road*—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Upper Seletar (not specified).

Family Microhylidae Günther, 1858a (1843) (6 species)

Micrhylidae Ģnther, 1858a: 346 (type genus Microhyla Tschudi, 1838: 346 . Type genus: Micrhyla Duméril & Bibron, 1841: 613 (an incorrect subsequent spelling of Microhyla Tschudi, 1838: 346 ).

Genus Kalophrynus Tschudi, 1838 (1 species)

Kalophrynus Tschudi, 1838: 48 , 86 (type species: Kalophrynus pleurostigma Tschudi, 1838 , by monotypy; gender masculine).

Figures

FIGURE 5. A) Limnonectes paramacrodon, B) Limnonectes plicatellus, C) Occidozyga sumatrana, D) Eleutherodactylus planirostris, E) Leptobrachium nigrops, F) Megophrys nasuta, G) Kalophrynus limbooliati, and H) Kaloulapulchra. Photographs by: Alex Figueroa [A–H].