Gracixalus quangi Rowley, Dau, Nguyen, Cao, and Nguyen, 2011

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 : 228

Gracixalus quangi Rowley, Dau, Nguyen, Cao, and Nguyen, 2011

Quang’s Bushfrog ( Fig. 5C )

Several individuals of G. quangi were observed by P. Brakels and N. Maury on 16 February 2019 in Kasy District , Vientiane Province (18°92.980’N, 102°23.398’E; elevation 550 m asl) and a few individuals were observed by P. Brakels in Longcheng District site 2, Xaisomboun Province, both on 27 April 2019 (19°00.813’N, 102°39.488’E; elevation 940 m asl) and on 1 June 2019 (19°00.983’N, 102°59.645’E; elevation 1,240 m asl).

Morphological characters of the individuals from Vientiane and Xaisomboun provinces agreed well with the descriptions of Rowley et al. (2011) and Pham et al. (2019). The photographed individual ( Fig. 5C ) agrees with the diagnosis of G. quangi in the following characters: small body size; snout pointed; canthus rostralis distinct, loreal region slightly concave; tympanum distinct, supratympanic fold present; tips of fingers and toes enlarged into round discs; tibiotarsal projection present; dorsal surface with small tubercles; largest and most concentrated on eyelids; coloration of dorsum olive-green, with brighter pale green on dorsal surface of upper arms; line of large olive-brownish spots running from axilla to groin; anterior surface of thighs, groin, and axilla yellowish; ventral surface of throat, chest, and belly opaque white with translucent pale green margins.

Ecological notes. The individuals from Vientiane Province were found in a narrow gorge in the vegetation along a small stream during and after heavy rain at ca. 2200 h. The individuals from Xaisomboun Province were found at ca. 1900–2230 h in vegetation along the stream. The surrounding habitat of the latter site was moist montane mixed evergreen forest.

Distribution. Prior to these records, this species was considered endemic to northern Vietnam. This is the first country record for Laos, at locations ca. 267 km southwest from the type locality in Pu Hoat Proposed Nature Reserve, Que Phong District, Nghe An Province, Vietnam ( Rowley et al. 2011).

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.