Theloderma lateriticum Bain, Nguyen, and Doan, 2009

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 lateriticum Bain, Nguyen, and Doan, 2009 Brick-red Bug-eyed Frog ( Fig. 6C–D )

One individual of T. lateriticum was observed by P. Brakels and N. Maury on 5 January 2019 in Vang Vieng District , Vientiane Province (18°96.776’N, 102°39.689’E; elevation 1,130 m asl) .

Morphological characters of the individual from Vientiane Province agreed well with the description of Bain et al. (2009). The photographed individual ( Fig. 6C–D ) agrees with the diagnosis of T. lateriticum in the following characters: small body size, dorsoventrally compressed body; snout slightly rounded; canthus rostralis distinct, rounded; loreal region oblique, slightly concave vertical; tympanum distinct, supratympanic fold distinct; tips of fingers and toes enlarged into round discs; dorsal surfaces granular, bearing tiny keratinized spicules; coloration of dorsum deep brick-red with some black blotches; ventral surface of throat, chest and belly grayish-brown with cream spots; iris brick-red.

Ecological notes. The individual was found on the ground (presumably, it had jumped onto the ground after it was disturbed by us) in a small dry rocky natural run off channel near a steep slope in dry mixed evergreen montane forest.

Distribution. This is the first country record for Laos, ca. 260 km southwest from the type locality in Nam Tha Commune, Van Ban District, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam ( Bain et al. 2009). Elsewhere, this species has been reported from Vietnam and southern China ( Chen et al. 2019).

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).