Theloderma petilum ( Stuart and Heatwole, 2004 ) Slender

Nguyen, Tan Van, Brakels, Peter, Maury, Nathanael, Sudavanh, Somchit, Pawangkhanant, Parinya, Idiiatullina, Sabira, Lorphengsy, Sengvilay, Inkhavilay, Khamla, Suwannapoom, Chatmongkon & Poyarkov, Nikolay A., 2020, New herpetofaunal observations from Laos based on photo records, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 248) 14 (2), pp. 218-249 : 231

Theloderma petilum ( Stuart and Heatwole, 2004) Slender Bug-eyed Frog ( Fig. 6E )

One individual of T. petilum was observed by P. Brakels and N. Maury on 15 April 2019 in Xanakharm District , Vientiane Province (18°12.510’N, 101°54.933’E; elevation 525 m asl) .

Morphological characters of the individual from Vientiane Province agreed well with the descriptions of Stuart and Heatwole (2004), Nguyen et al. (2014), and Phusaensri et al. (2018). The photographed individual ( Fig. 6E ) agrees with the diagnosis of T. petilum in the following characters: small body size, very slender, elongate body habitus; snout slightly rounded; pupil round; tympanum round, small, clearly visible; supratympanic fold distinct; loreal region slightly concave, oblique; tips of fingers and toes enlarged into round discs; dorsal surfaces smooth with microscopic white asperities on head, eyelids, back, dorsal surface of tibia and forelimbs, and anterior half of flanks; coloration of dorsum with dark-brown stripe below the edge of canthus rostralis extending from tip of snout to flanks near the level of mid-body; brownish-black spot slightly anterior to groin.

Ecological notes. The individual was found at ca. 2000 h in dense vegetation. Several individuals were calling along a small stream surrounded by large bamboo tangles. The surrounding habitat was mixed dry evergreen hill forest.

Distribution. In Laos, this species has been previously recorded only from Phongsali Province ( Stuart and Heatwole 2004). This is the second record from the country as well as the first from Vientiane Province. Elsewhere, this species has been reported from Vietnam and Thailand ( Phusaensri et al. 2018).

Figures

Fig. 6. (A) Theloderma albopunctatum in Hom District, Xaisomboun Province; (B) T. gordoni in Phiang District, Xaignabouli Province; (C) lateral view and (D) ventral view of T. lateriticum in Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province; (E) T. petilum in Kasy District, Vientiane Province; (F) Zhangixalus feae in Xay District, Oudomxai Province. Photos by P. Brakels (A–C, E–F) and N. Maury (D).