Identification Characteristics:
This amphibian species is a large member of the narrow-mouthed frog family, with a body length of approximately 35-55 mm. The body is triangular, with a small head and pointed snout. The skin is rough, covered with small, closely-packed warts across the dorsal surface. The back is flat, distinctly separated from the flanks by a sharp ridge. Near the thighs on the back, there are two prominent, large black spots and other smaller black spots scattered across the dorsal surface.
The snout is pointed with a blunt canthus rostralis (rostral ridge). The loral (cheek) region is nearly flat and vertical. The mouth is narrow, with the snout slightly longer than the eye diameter (Snout Length (SL) 4.78 mm, Eye Diameter (ED) 4.34 mm). The eyes are small, with horizontal pupils. The nostrils are closer to the tip of the snout than to the eye, with the interorbital distance (IOD) wider than the upper eyelid width (UEW) (IOD 4.85 mm, UEW 2.77 mm). The tympanum (eardrum) is distinct, about two-thirds the diameter of the eye (Tympanum Diameter (TD) 2.73 mm, ED 4.34 mm). A skin ridge is present above the tympanum. Vomerine teeth (teeth on the roof of the mouth) are arranged obliquely, almost touching the lower edge of the inner nostrils. The tongue is long and narrow, rounded posteriorly.
The fingers are completely free (unwebbed). The toes have about one-quarter webbing. The finger and toe tips are blunt. The inner and outer metatarsal tubercles (bumps on the sole of the foot) are round and of similar size. Subarticular tubercles (bumps under the fingers and toes) are prominent. When the limbs are folded along the body, the tibio-tarsal articulation (ankle) reaches the shoulder, and the tarsal-metatarsal articulation (foot) reaches the eye.
The body has many tubercles. The tubercles are small on the snout and become larger on the back, belly, and limbs. The body is yellowish-brown, with lighter spots along the flanks from behind the eye to the base of the thigh. The tympanum, shoulders, and flanks are dark brown. The chin and throat are lighter in color. There are two dark black spots on the back, adjacent to the groin. The belly is opaque white.
Biology and Ecology:
This species commonly inhabits well-preserved or secondary forests in low-lying areas. They typically appear during the first rains of the season in the southeastern region of Vietnam for mating and reproduction, after which they are no longer observed as the water level rises.
During the mating season, the body secretes a very sticky, yellowish mucus when touched. Their diet consists of small insects such as ants and termites. The breeding season is from March to May annually. They lay eggs in small clumps that float on stagnant water.
Distribution:
- Vietnam: This species is distributed in Cao Bang, Ninh Binh, Dong Nai, and Binh Phuoc provinces.
- World: Cambodia; China; Hong Kong; Laos; Myanmar; Thailand.