Rana johnsi Smith, 1921

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 : 225-226

Rana johnsi Smith, 1921

Johns’ Frog ( Fig. 4E )

One individual of R. johnsi was observed by P. Brakels and N. Maury on 27 December 2019 in Phiang District site 2, Xaignabouli Province (19°04.748’N, 101°24.231’E; elevation 870 m asl) .

Morphological characters of the individual from Xaignabouli Province agreed well with the descriptions of Inger (1999) and Neang and Holden (2008). The photographed individual ( Fig. 4E ) agrees with the diagnosis of R. johnsi in the following characters: medium body size; snout obtusely pointed, projecting beyond lower jaw; canthus rostralis distinct, loreal region concave, oblique; pupil round; tympanum round, distinct, supratympanic fold absent; tips of fingers and toes without discs; dorsal surface smooth with some small tubercles, granular on tibia; coloration of dorsum light brown, tympanum covered by a dark lozenge, flanks pale whitish-brown anteriorly, yellow posteriorly, upper surface of limbs with narrow grayish transverse bars; ventral surface of throat, chest and anterior belly cream; posterior belly slight yellow, thighs yellow-lemon.

Ecological notes. The individuals were found at ca. 2000–2100 h on the ground among leaf litter at the entrance of a hole on the steep bank of a stream. The surrounding habitat was evergreen forest with an abundance of palm trees ( Arecaceae ) and bamboo thickets.

Distribution. In Laos, this species has been recorded from Bolikhamxai and Khammouan provinces ( Stuart 2005). This is the second record from the country as well as the first from Xaignabouli Province. Elsewhere, this species has been reported from China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand ( Frost 2020).

Figures

Fig. 4. (A) Ophryophryne pachyproctus in Longcheng District, Xaisomboun Province; (B) Xenophrys palpebralespinosa in Mork District, Xiangkhouang Province; (C) Glyphoglossus guttulatus in Pathoumphone District, Champasak Province; (D) G. molossus in Savannakhet Province; (E) Rana johnsi in Xaignabouli Province; (F) Sylvirana cubitalis in Thongmyxay District, Xaignabouli Province. Photos by P. Pawangkhanant (A), P. Brakels (B–C), K. Inkhavilay (D), N. Maury (E), and P. Phiapalath (F).