Limnonectes blythii (Boulenger, 1920)

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, Zootaxa 5287 (1), pp. 1-378 : 32-33

Limnonectes blythii (Boulenger, 1920) — Native.

Rana fusca Blyth, 1856 “1855”: 719. Syntypes (10): ZSI 9076–77 and 9078–85, according to Sclater (1892: 4); all syntypes apparently lost except for 9077, according to Chanda et al. (2000: 109). Type locality: “Tenasserim valley”, Myanmar; later restricted to “ Pegu ” [= Bago], Myanmar by Sclater (1892: 4).

Malayan Giant Frog

( Figure 4G ; Kranji Woodland)

Singapore records.

Rana macrodon (non Duméril & Bibron, 1841) (part)— Blanford, 1881: 216.— Boulenger, 1882b: 24.— Flower, 1896: 898–901.— Hanitsch, 1898: 8.— Flower, 1900: 888.—A.L. Butler, 1903: 196.— Boulenger, 1912: 233, 234. Hanitsch, 1912b: 18.—van Kampen, 1923: 174.—Smedley, 1931d: 59–62.— Bourret, 1942: 259.—D.S. Johnson, 1964: 28.—Yuen & Fernando, 1967: 91.—K. Lim, 1988b: 6 (Bukit Timah Hill [BTNR]; Sime Road [SRF]).—D.S. Johnson, 1992: 39.—L.M. Chou, 1995: 146.

Rana blythi — Inger, 1966: 162–175 (Bukit Timah [BTNR]).— Grandison, 1972: 64.

Rana blythii —K. Lim, 1989g: 41 (Jungle Fall Valley [BTNR]).—K. Lim, 1989h: 66 (Sime Road Forest).— K.P. Lim, 1990b: 13 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 56.—K.K.P. Lim, 1991a: 4 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—K.P. Lim & Subharaj, 1991 d: 4 (Seletar Reservoir Park [USRP]).—K.K.P. Lim & C.M. Yang, 1991: 222, 225.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 27, 143.—K.K.P. Lim & Subharaj, 1992: 9 (Lower Peirce Reservoir [LP]; Sime Road Forest).—P.K.L. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 1992: 260 (Nee Soon Swamp Forest).—Wee, 1992: 73 (Lower Peirce Reservoir Park).—E.K. Chua, 1993: 61.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 93.—R. Subaraj, 1994: 15 (MacRitchie Forest).—K.K.P. Lim, 1994a: 330.—T.M. Leong & L.M. Chou, 1997: 99 (Central Catchment Area).

Limnonectes blythi —R. Subaraj et al., 1995: 5 (MacRitchie; Mandai Lake Road; Sime Forest [SRF]).—K. Lim, 1995: 19 (Cave Path (BTNR); Lasia Track (BTNR); Lower Peirce Forest [LP]; Seletar North Peninsula [USNF]; Senapang Road (BTNR); Upper Seletar Reservoir Park).

Limnonectes blythii —K.K.P. Lim, 1996: 50.—R.C.H. Teo & Rajathurai, 1997: 397.— Manthey & Grossmann, 1997: 93.—Chan-ard et al., 1999: 16.—T.M. Leong & L.M. Chou, 1999: 98–100.— T.M. Leong, 2000: 8.—K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 2002: 144.—R. Teo, 2003: 6 (Botanic Gardens; Holland Woods [= CF]).—N. Baker, 2005: 8.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 57, 158. (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; Western Catchment Area).—T.M. Leong, Yeong & R. Subaraj, 2009: 364 ( Singapore Zoo).—S.H. Chan & C. Goh, 2010: 105 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).—E.K. Chua, 2010: 102 (Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).—L.L. Grismer, 2011a: 67.—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 308.—T.M. Leong, 2011: 20, 22.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 57, 158.— Gilbert et al., 2012: 389, 393.—K.K.P. Lim, 2013c: 112 (Bukit Gombak).—K.K.P. Lim & M.A.H. Chua, 2014: 27 (Botanic Gardens).—H.H. Tan, 2014d: 130, 131 (Bukit Gombak).—H.C. Ho et al., 2015: 24 (Clementi Forest).—Sridhar & Bickford, 2015: 184–188 (Bukit Batok Nature Park; Venus Drive [WNP]).—R. Subaraj, 2015: 52, 54, 56 (Mandai Range Forest; Night Safari; Project Western Boundary [= MBP]; Stephen Lee Woods [= RPN]; Ulu Sembawang Forest; Upper Seletar Peninsula [= USNF]).—S. Subaraj, 2015: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (Mandai Range Forest; Night Safari; Project Western Boundary [= MBP]; Singapore Zoo; Stephen Lee Woods [= RPN]; Upper Seletar Peninsula [= USNF]).—S.M. Chong et al., 2018: 252, 253.—I.S. Law, 2018: 100 (Bishan Park).—H.C. Ho et al., 2019: 124, 125 (Alexandra Woodlands; Clementi Forest).—R.C.H. Teo & Thomas, 2019: 151, 179 (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve; Rifle Range Road Pipeline).—Allain & Goodman, 2020: 217 ( Singapore Botanic Gardens [Evolution Garden]).—B.C. Ng, 2021: 136, 137 (Pang Sua Woodland).

Limnonectes shompenorum (non Das, 1996)— Iskandar & Colijn, 2000: 76.

Remarks. Along with L. malesianus , L. blythii belongs to the L. macrodon complex. This complex has suffered a tumultuous taxonomic history due to an inadequate species description provided by Duméril & Bibron (1841). Blanford (1881) and Flower (1896) pointed out early that variation existed in L. macrodon specimens from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, particularly that the Singapore collection differed from the Penang specimens by having broader heads. These Singapore specimens later became known as L. malesianus , when Kiew (1984) described them as a distinct species. Boulenger (1920) described L. macrodon var. blythii to distinguish the narrow-headed form, and is accredited as the species authority. Smedley (1931d) was the first to point out that both forms/species overlapped in distribution, including in Singapore (Smedley 1931d), which Inger (1966) substantiated 35 years later ( Table 1 ). Examination of LKCNHM specimens show that the earliest-known L. blythii specimen is from 10 October 1973 taken at BTNR. Prior to the 1990s, L. blythii was never observed outside of CNR (K.P.P. Lim pers. obs.); however, today it occurs throughout Singapore, even in areas that are open, disturbed, and lack suitable streams (A. Figueroa pers. obs.). It is unknown whether L. blythii was able to expand its distribution within Singapore or whether individuals were introduced into these areas and established viable populations. Answering this question will likely require a detailed phylogeographic study sampling specimens across Singapore.

Occurrence. Widespread. Common.

Singapore conservation status. Least Concern.

Conservation priority. Lowest.

IUCN conservation status. Least Concern [2022].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (not specified) : BMNH 1895.1 .8.11 (no date) , ZRC.1.355– ZRC.1.356 (no date); Bukit Batok Nature Park : ZRC.1.10924– ZRC.1.10929 (18-Dec-1995) ; Bukit Timah: ZRC.1.3576 (1997); Bukit Timah Nature Reserve : ZRC.1.1462– ZRC.1.1469 (29-Oct-1974) , ZRC.1.1545 (10-Oct-1973) , ZRC.1.3358 (18-Oct-1996) , ZRC.1.3359 (19-Sep-1996) ; Hillview: ZRC.1.7733 (14-Apr-2001) ; Kranji Marshes: ZRC.1.12480 (14-Dec-2011) ; Lim Chu Kang Lane 8 [ LKC]: ZRC.1.12487 (29-Mar-2012) ; Nee Soon Swamp Forest : ZRC.1.2931 (01-Jan-1991) , ZRC.1.2988 (08-Mar-1991) ; Pasir Laba Military Exercise Area : ZRC.1.11344– ZRC.1.11346 (11-May-2004) ; Rifle Range Road: ZRC.1.3360 (Aug-1996) , ZRC.1.8648– ZRC.1.8651 (20-Oct-2001) ; Seletar Reservoir Park [ USRP]: ZRC.1.3060 (02-Nov-1991) ; Sime Road Forest : ZRC.1.1759 (27-Oct-1989) , ZRC.1.1768 (24- Dec-1989) , ZRC.1.10406 (15-Jan-2003) ; Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve : ZRC.1.10550 (12-Apr-2003) ; Western Catchment Area : ZRC.1.12497 (17-Nov-2012) ; ZRC.1.11337 (21-Apr-2004) .

Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): FMNH, ZMH; Mandai Road: BPBM.

Singapore localities. Alexandra Woodlands—Bishan Park—Bukit Batok Nature Park—Bukit Gombak—Bukit Timah (not specified)—Bukit Timah Nature Reserve—Clementi Forest—Hillview—Kranji Marshes— Kranji Woodland—Lim Chu Kang—Lower Peirce—Lower Peirce Reservoir Park—MacRitchie—Mandai Bird Park—Mandai Lake Road—Mandai Range Forest—Mandai Road—Nee Soon Swamp Forest—Night Safari—Pang Sua Woodland—Pasir Laba Military Exercise Area—Rainforest Park North—Rifle Range Road—Rifle Range Road Pipeline—Sime Road Forest—Singapore Botanic Gardens—Singapore Zoo— Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve—Ulu Sembawang Forest—Upper Seletar North Forest—Upper Seletar Reservoir Park—Western Catchment Area—Windsor Nature Park.

Figures

FIGURE 4. A) Ichthyophis paucisulcus, B) Duttaphrynus bengalensis, C) Ingerophrynus quadriporcatus, D) Pelophryne ingeri, E) Fejervarya cancrivora, F) Fejervarya limnocharis, G) Limnonectes blythii, and H) Limnonectes malesianus. Photographs by: Cai Yixiong [A], Alex Figueroa [B, D–H], and Kelvin K.P. Lim [C].