Chirixalus nongkhorensis (Cochran, 1927)

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 : 226-227

Chirixalus nongkhorensis (Cochran, 1927)

Nongkhor Foam-nest Treefrog ( Fig. 5B )

Several individuals of C. nongkhorensis were observed by P. Brakels on 3 July 2019 in Champhone District site 1, Savannakhet Province (16°21.500’N, 105°14.229’E; elevation 150 m asl) ; several other individuals were observed by P. Brakels, P. Pawangkhanant, T. V. Nguyen, and N.A. Poyarkov on 12 July 2019 in Khounkham District site 1, Khammouan Province (18°12.543’N, 104°30.528’E; elevation 350 m asl) ; one individual was observed by P. Brakels on 10 August 2019 in Bortaen District site 2, Xaignabouli Province (17°47.338’N, 101°04.359’E; elevation 475 m asl) .

Morphological characters of the individuals from Khammouan, Savannakhet, and Xiagnabouly provinces agreed well with the descriptions of Taylor (1962), Aowphol et al. (2013), and Vassilieva et al. (2016). The photographed individual ( Fig. 5B ) agrees with the diagnosis of C. nongkhorensis in the following characters: small body size with elongated habitus; snout pointed; canthus rostralis obtuse; loreal region slightly concave; eye large, protruding with horizontal pupil; tympanum round, distinct, supratympanic fold sharp, prominent; 1 st and 2 nd fingers oppose 3 rd and 4 th fingers; tips of fingers and toes bearing large discs; dorsal surface slightly shagreened; ventral surface glandular; coloration of dorsum uniform yellowish-brown without longitudinal stripes, ventral surfaces cream, tips finger and toes yellowish; iris golden.

Ecological notes. The individuals were found at ca. 1900–2200 h when calling along the road in vegetation overhanging water puddles. The surrounding habitat was secondary disturbed mixed evergreen forest consisting of bamboo, dense shrubs, and lianas.

Distribution. In Laos, C. nongkhorensis has been recorded from Vientiane and Champasak provinces ( Stuart 2005). This is the first record of this species from Khammouan, Savannakhet, and Xaignabouli provinces. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded from Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia ( Frost 2020).

Remarks. Until recently this species was assigned to the genus Chiromantis Peters, 1854 , but it was re-assigned to Chirixalus Boulenger, 1893 based on the recent phylogenetic data of Chen et al. (2020).

Figures

Fig. 5. (A) Chirixalus doriae in Xay District, Oudomxai Province; (B) C. nongkhorensis in Khounkham District, Khammouan Province; (C) Gracixalus quangi in Longcheng District, Xaisomboun Province; (D) G. quyeti in Khounkham District, Khammouan Province; (E) Rhacophorus kio in Bortaen District, Xaignabouli Province; (F) R. rhodopus in Mork District, Xiangkhouang Province. Photos by P. Brakels.