Russian Journal of Herpetology Vol. 5, No. 1, 1998, pp.

51 -60

TWO NEW SPECIES OF Leptobrachium (ANURA: MEGOPHRYIDAE)

FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF VIETNAM
WITH A REDESCRIPTION OF Leptobrachium chapaense

Amy ~ a t h r o p Robert
,~ W. ~ u r p h y Nikolai
,~ L. 0rlov: and Cuc Thu H O ~

Submitted 15 March 1998.

Two species of Leptobrachium are described from the Central Highlands of Vietnam in Gia Lai Province.
These descriptions increase the number of species of Leptobrachium in Indochina from four to six. We also
include a redescription of a northern species, Lepfobrachium chapaense, based on recent collections from
Tam Dao, Vinh Phu Province, Vietnam. A key to the species of Leptobrachium from Indochina is provided.

Key words: Amphibia, Anura, new species, Leptobrachium chapaense, Leptobrachium xanthospilum,
Leptobrachium banae, taxonomic key.

Our field work in Vietnam for the past five years
has led to the discovery of several new species of am-
phibians (e.g., Lathrop et al., in press), as well as
known species not previously recorded from Viet-
nam. These discoveries include localities collected
heavily by pourret. Indeed, at every locality visited
thus far, we have found either new species, or new
records of species occurrences in Vietnam. Among
these discoveries, in the forests of Vietnam we have
found two new sympatric species of frogs belonging
to the rare megophryid genus Leptobrachium. These
terrestrial amphibians may be found in high mountain
regions either near streams or on the forest floor.
Their broad heads, and often dual-colored iris, easily
distinguishes them from other genera of anurans.
Until now only four species of Leptobrachium
were known from Indochina. One species, L.
hasseltii, has a broad distribution (Myanmar, Thai-
land, Borneo, Java, and the Philippines) and the vari-
ation seen throughout its distribution has been care-
fully detailed by Inger (1954, 1966). Leptobrachium
hendrichoni (Taylor, 1962) was described from three
specimens from Malaya, Malaysia and Thailand.
However, this species was subsequently synonomized
Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Royal On-
tario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6.
email: AL -AmyL@rom.on.ca; RWM -drbob@rom.on.ca.
Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119034 St.
Petersburg, Russia.
email: nbanoms@glas. apc. org.
Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Nghia Do, Tu
Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam.
with L. hasseltii because the differences between the
two species can be observed across several popula-
tions of L. hasseltii alone (Inger, 1966: p. 3 1). A
smaller species, L. nigrops, is found on the Malay
Peninsula as well as Singapore and Borneo (Berry and
Hendrickson, 1963). It is very similar to L. hasseltii,
but differs by having a more acurninate snout and
broader head. The detailed description of one species,
L. pullum, is wanting. All that is known for the spe-
cies can be traced back to a meager description by
Smith (1921: p. 440) in which he describes it as a
"variant" of L. hasseltii and comparisons of the for-
mer made with L. nigrops (Berry and Hendrickson,
1963). Dubois (1983) elevated two Vietnamese
forms, L. hasseltii pullus (Smith, 1921) and L.
hasseltii chapaensis, (Bourret, 1937) to full species
status without accompanying justification. In light of
this taxonomic change, and because we have col-
lected L, chapaense, we believed it desirable to rede-
scribe L. chapaense. Notwithstanding, confirmation
of the validity ofL. pullum as a distinct species must
wait until type material can be examined. In the in-
terim, the comparisons of our new species with L. pul-
lum are based on the brief description of Smith
'(1921).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
All measurements were taken with digital calipers
to the nearest 0.01 mm and rounded to 0.1 rnm. Meas-
urements are summarized in Table 1. Below, snout

1026-2296/98/0501-0051 O 1998 Folium Publishing Company

52 Amy Lathrop et al.

vent length has been abbreviated SVL. The formula
for toe webbing follows Myers and Duellman (1982).
Abbreviations used: ROM) Royal Ontario Museum,
Toronto, Canada; MVZ) Museum of Vertebrate Zool-
ogy, University of California, Berkeley, USA; KIZ)
Kunming Institute of Zoology, Yunnan Province,
China; IEBR) Institute of Ecology and Biological Re-
sources, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Leptobrachium chapaense (Bourret)
Figs. 1,2
Megophlys hasseltii chapaensis Bourret, 1937
Leptobrachium (Leptobrachium) chapaense Dubois,
1980: p. 476
Diagnosis. A medium-sized Leptobrachium (fe-
male 58.7 - 79.9 mm; male 53.5 - 65.5 mrn) with
short legs; heels do not overlap when legs are at right
angles to body; webbing basal on toes. Dorsal color
pattern dark brown with small, diffuse orange
blotches on the sacral region, flanks, and limbs; ven-
tral coloration of limbs black with white reticulations
and banding on the thigh and knee; groin and flanks
black with white pustules that change to dark mottling
on white near the chest and throat. Axillary gland lo-
cated in armpit, behind insertion of arm. Dorsal half
of iris white.
Leptobrachium chapaense has a relatively dark
belly with distinct white punctuations; mottling oc-
curs on the throat and darker mottling on the legs
(Fig. 3) distinguishing it from L. hasseltii, L. hen-
dricksoni, L. pullum, L. nigrops, and the little known
L. hainanensis (Ye and Fe) (Ye et al., 1993) that are
said to have predominantly light venters (either cream
or white) with some dark spotting. The absence of
distinct, dark spots on the dorsum distinguishes L.
chapaense from most other species of Lepto-
brachium, including L. pullum, L. nigrops, L. hai-
nanensis, many variants of L. hasseltii, and L. mon-
tanum.
Description of species (based on 4 males, ROM
31199 -200; 32175 - 176 and 3 females, ROM
3 1196, 3 1198, IEBR specimen bearing ROM field
number 30006). Body short, head 42% in males, 36%
females of SVL; head broad, width slightly greater
than length, greater than width of body; head dor-
soventrally compressed; canthus rostralis rounded,
loreal region oblique, slightly concave; interorbital
and frontal areas flat and sloping ventrally near snout;
nostril to eye distance almost twice that of nostril to
tip of snout; snout in dorsal view rounded, in lateral
view sloped. Eyes large and protuberant; eye length
equal to snout length; tympanum small, half diameter
of eye, and separated from eye by a distance equal to
or 75% tympanum diameter; supratympanic fold ex-
tends from rear comer of eye to articulation of jaw;
eyes broadly separated, interorbital distance 50% of

TABLE 1. Measurement for Leptobrachiurn from Indochina

Measurements,
L. chapaense L. pullum L. hasseltii L, nigrops L. xanthospilum ' L. banae '
mm 0" 9 0" 0 0" 0" 0 0" 9 0" 9
n=4 n=3 n=5 n=3 n=6 n=l n=7 n=8 n=2 n=14 n=2
SVL 53.5 - 65.5 58.7 -79.9
59.0 f 6.0 71.6 f 11.3
Head length/SVL 0.39 - 0.43 0.36 - 0.38
0.41 f 0.02 0.37 f 0.01
Head width/SVL 0.41 - 0.45 0.38 - 0.40
0.43 f 0.02 0.39 f 0.01
Arm/SVL 0.26-0.30 0.26 -0.28
0.28 f 0.02 0.27 f 0.01
Tibia/SVL 0.35 -0.36 0.35 -0.37
0.36 f 0.01 0.36 f 0.01

Note. Except SVL, where available, each measurement is given as a ratio with the mean k one standard deviation above the range (in
parentheses). Numbers in bold are measurements of the holotype. NA) Not available.
This study.
From Smith (1921: p. 440).
From Taylor (1962) for Thailand material. For further data on this species across its distribution see Inger (1954, 1966).
From Beny and Hendrickson (1963).
Vietnamese Leptobrachium
54 Amy Lathrop et al.
Vietnamese Leptobrachium
56
head width; posterior 112 of tongue free, distinctly
notched; vomerine teeth absent; choanae separated by
a distance slightly less than that between nares.
Fingers long (27% SVL), tips not wider than dig-
its; first finger slightly longer than second, latter
slightly shorter than fourth; webbing absent, lateral
fringes weak; inner metacarpal tubercle, round, not
protuberant, same size or slightly larger than outer
metacarpal tubercle; midventral ridge incorporating
subarticular tubercles of various sizes on each finger,
no distinct tubercle at base of digits; webbing on toes
basal; inner metatarsal tubercle large, slightly more
than half of length of first toe, outer metatarsal tuber-
cle absent; subarticular tubercles on toes 3, 4 and 5;
one subarticular tubercle on second toe, none on first;
heels do not meet when legs are at right angles to
body.
Skin on dorsum smooth with microscopic net-
work of ridges that are evident around the sacral re-
gion and less evident on head and limbs (in preserva-
tion); flanks, belly, chest, and throat, with small white
pustules; ventral surface of legs smooth with similar
pustules adjacent to vent. Femoral gland distinct, its
distance to vent is twice that to knee; chest gland im-
mediately behind insertion of arm; area between jaw
articulation and eye with minute tubercles.
Coloration in life (based on specimens from Tam
Dao). Dorsum and limbs chocolate-brown. Irregu-
larly shaped orange spots on back and limbs; legs
with alternating orange and black bands on the infe-
rior surface of the tibiotarsus; feet, ventral side of
arms, and posterior thighs with black and white mot-
tling; groin black with small, white spots that are
more concentrated on the chest and throat, chest and
throat predominantly white with some black mottling.
Hands and feet gray, including tubercles; tips of digits
white. Dark patch on canthus, just behind nares, and
one at posterior corner of eye; lower edge of su-
pratyrnpanic fold bordered by dark line; margin
around eyelid black; nictatating membrane dark; dor-
sal half of iris white.
Coloration in preservative. Dorsum dark brown
with tan spots on back and limbs; ventral color pattern
does not change in preservative. An older specimen
(KIZ 8409186) in the collections of the Kunming In-
stitute of Zoology, Yunnan Province, China has re-
tained a similar color pattern, but is slightly faded.
The dorsurn is tan with some dark spotting; venter
, Amy Lathrop et al.
lighter tan, with light-brown mottling. Banding on the
legs dark brown.
Distribution and ecology. The type material is
known from Sa Pa (Chapa), Lao Cai Province (22'22'
N, 103'52' E), which is about 30 km south of the Chi-
nese border. Seven specimens, 4 males, ROM 3 1199
-200; 32175 - 176 and 3 females, ROM 31 196,
3 1198, IEBR specimen bearing ROM field number
30006 and three specimens, 2 adult females and 1
adult male (MVZ 23976 - 77; 2398 I), were collected
in Tam Dao, Vinh Phu Province (21°27'N, 105'38'
E), approximately 250 km SE of Sa Pa at an elevation
approximately 400 m. Yang (1991) has records for
ten individuals collected from five localities in central
and southern Yunnan: Tengchong (25'0' N, 98'5' E);
Menglian (24'5' N, 98'8' E); Mengla (21'4' E,
101'5' E); Luchun (23'0' N, 102'4' E); Jingdong
(24'4' N, 100'8' E) from elevations between 1000-
1900 m. Five adult frogs (two males and three' fe-
males) collected in Tam Dao on 4 May 1996 were
found in reproductive period in the rapid mountain
stream, and one couple was observed in amplexus
(Fig. 2). This stream full down the steep mountain
slope covered by the rain polydominant forest
(Fig. 4).
Remarks. Bourret (1937, 1942) considered this
species to be a subspecies of L. hasseltii. He distin-
guished it from L. hasseltii hasseltii by relative length
of the 3rd finger, greater interorbital space, and the
condition and color of the metatarsal tubercle. It was
distinguished from L. pullum by the size of the meta-
tarsal tubercle and color pattern. In addition, the white
color of the dorsal part of the eye distinguishes it from
these two species, both of which have a scarlet-col-
ored dorsal part of the eye. Although there appears to
be some variation in the eye color for populations of
L. chapaense, the eye color is never scarlet.
Yang (199 1: p. 69) reports that the dorsal portion
of the iris is blue. This may be similar to the very dark
or black iris described by Bourret (1937,1942). In the
live specimens from Tam Dao, the dorsaI half of the
iris is strikingly white, and very distinguishable from
the rest of the eye. This is evident even in our pre-
served specimens, as they match very well in all other
respects to the description and illustration of L. cha-
paense by Bourret (1942).
Vietnamese Leptobrachium
Leptobrachium xanthospilum (sp. nov.)
Figs. 5 , 6
Holotype. ROM 32 181, an adult female from the
forested hills about 2 krn east a farming village
(14O20'29" N, 108O28'46" E elevation 850 m), Gia
Lia Province, Vietnam, collected on 25 September
1997 by local Ba Na hunters.
Paratypes. ROM 32180 (female) collected at the
same time and in the vicinity of the holotype; ROM
32 182 - 88 (males) from Tram Lap (14O26'24" N,
108O32'58" E elevation 900 m), Gia Lia Province,
Vietnam (approximately 35 km NE [by road] of the
type locality) collected by N. L. Orlov, R. W. Mur-
phy, and R. Bain on 16 - 27 June 1996.
Diagnosis. A large-sized Leptobrachium (two fe-
males 83.2 - 84.8 mm SVL, eight males 62.8 - 73.4
rnrn), with long legs, heels overlap when legs are at
right angles to body; toes 1/3 webbed. Dorsal color
pattern light brown to dark chocolate brown; flanks,
posteroventral surface of legs; and sometimes chin
with distinct large yellow spots; limbs with or without
distinct dark bands, venter uniformly dark with min-
ute white spots on chest, throat and chin. Chest gland
located in armpit, behind insertion of arm. Dorsal half
of iris white.
This large Leptobrachium can be distinguished
from all other species of Leptobrachium by the dis-
tinct, large yellow (creamy-white in preservation)
spots on the flanks, posterior legs, and sometimes on
the chin. Furthermore, the uniformly dark venter with
scattered white punctuation (Fig. 3) distinguishes it
from L. nigrops, L. chapaense, L. hasseltii, and L.
hendrichoni (syn. of hasseltii; Inger, 1966) that are
not uniformly dark, but predominantly either white
marbled or speckled with darker pigmentation. In life
(sometimes visible in preserved specimens) the white
dorsal part of the iris easily distinguishes it from L.
hasseltii and L. pullum that are said to be scarlet
(Beny and Hendrickson, 1963: p. 618; Smith, 1921:
p. 440) and L. nigrops that has a uniformly black iris.
The long legs of L. xanthospilum, where the heels
broadly overlap when at right angles to the body, dis-
tinguishes it from all species ofLeptobrachium except
Leptobrachium nigrops. Although the latter species
has been reported to have relatively short legs (Berry
and Hendrickson, 1963: p. 644), it is unclear if this
means the heels do not contact when drawn in toward
the body.
57
Description of holotype. Body long (SVL 84.8
rnm) head 39% SVL; head large, width equal to
length, as broad as body; interorbital and frontal areas
flat and sloping ventrally near snout; head dorsoven-
trally compressed; canthus rostralis rounded, loreal
region oblique, slightly concave; nostrils to tip of
snout 1/3 distance of nostril to eye; snout in dorsal
view rounded, in lateral view sloped. Eyes large and
protuberant, diameter greater than snout length; tym-
panum large, 63% of eye diameter, and separated
from eye by a distance 84% of tympanum diameter;
supratympanic fold extends from rear comer of eye to
articulation of jaw; interorbital distance 55% of head
width; posterior 1/2 of tongue free, distinctly
notched; vomerine teeth absent; choanae separated by
a distance nearly 1.5 times internasal distance.
Fingers long (23% SVL), tips not wider than dig-
its; first finger longer than second, latter equal to
fourth; webbing absent, lateral fringes weak; inner
metacarpal tubercle, oval, protuberant, outer metacar-
pal tubercle similar shape as inner, but slightly
smaller; midventral ridge of subarticular tubercles of
various sizes on each finger, no distinct tubercle at
base of digits; toes about 1/3 webbed (11-1.5111-3-
1112-3.5IV3-5-1.5V); inner metatarsal tubercle large,
length equal to first toe, outer metatarsal tubercle ab-
sent; subarticular tubercles like those of hand on toes
3, 4, and 5, one on second toe, none on first; heels
broadly overlap when legs are at right angles to body.
Skin on dorsurn, smooth with microscopic net-
work of ridges that extend onto dorsal surface of
limbs and ventral surface of arms; belly, chest, throat,
and area adjacent to vent with small pustules. Femoral
gland, indistinct, midway between knee and vent;
chest gland immediately behind insertion of arm.
Color in life. Dorsum and limbs dark brown; legs
with darker bands on the posterodorsal surface of
thigh and tibiotarsus; flanks with 7 - 8 large, well-de-
fined yellow spots; venter uniformly dark brown-lav-
ender with evenly dispersed light-brown pustules on
belly, chest, and adjacent to vent; more concentrated
pustules on throat and chin. Tips of digits and tuber-
cles on hands and feet white. Margin of eyelid par-
tially yellow. Dorsal half of iris white.
Color in preservative. Dorsum dark brown with
microscopic network of ridges lighter brown; large
spots on flanks, chest and chin, creamy-white. Limbs
light brown with dark brown bands. Venter brown
 58
with very small light pustules. Toe tips, metatarsal,
and metacarpal tubercles creamy white.
Variation. Dorsal color pattern is either dark pur-
ple-black (specimens from Krong Pa and the majority
of those from Tram Lap) or brown (Tram Lap ROM
32187) with darker diffuse mottling. Venter in all
specimens uniformly one color, either very dark
(Krong Pa) or lighter brown (Tram Lap). In the lighter
colored specimens, the granular nature of the throat
and chin can be more easily detected because the
granules show up as creamy-white. Two Tram Lap
specimens have yellow dots on the chin and chest.
Axillary gland more distinct in male Tram Lap speci-
mens. However, all males are from Tram lap and all
. females are from Krong Pa and, thus, this may reflect
an artifact of collecting. Arms of males are thicker
and more stout; females have longer, weaker arms.
Banding on arms distinctly obvious in the light brown
specimen from Tram Lap, and less distinct in other
Tram Lap specimens, and very difficult to see in the
dark females from Krong Pa. Interorbital bar on the
one light brown specimen from Tram Lap. Some yel-
low spotting may occur on the head and around the
edge of the upper eyelid.
Remarks. Two gravid females were collected in
late September. As well, two metamorphs (ROM
32178 - 32179) (Fig. 7), Gosner (1960) Stage 46,
were collected in late June from the same stream
where the adults were collected. We are unsure
whether they are L. xanthospilum or the other sympa-
tric species, described below. Nonetheless, if these
are L. xanthospilum and gravid females are found in
September, this suggests that either the L. xanthospi-
lum have an extended larval period lasting nearly nine
months, or that the breeding season is long. A similar
finding was reported by Pope (1 93 1) for Chinese L.
hasseltii in which larvae were found in January, April
and July. No conclusions can be drawn until addi-
tional collections can be made at different times of the
year.
Besides the localities noted above, we have ob-
served this species in the vicinity of Buoenloy village
(14"20f38" N, 108O36'18" E, elevation 700 m), Gia
Lai Province. One adult male was found in October
1993 during the rainy night on the leaf litter in 100 m
out from the stream; 26 metamorphs were collected in
March- beginning of May 1995 in small mountain
stream flowing into Cha River (tributary of Ba River),
In the latter locality the tadpoles on the latest develop-
Amy Lathrop dt al.
mental stages and three couples in amplexus (Fig. 6)
were noted on 6 - 10 May, i.e., in the beginning of the
rainy season. Stony streams with Leptobrachium xan-
thospilum filled by the deciduous leaves, flow in the
aerial layered polydominant rain forest; the canopy
above the streams is closed (Fig. 8).
Etymology. The specific name is derived from
the Greekxanthos meaning yellow and the Greek spi-
10smeaning spot. The name refers to the conspicuous
yellow spots this frogs bears.
Leptobmchium banae (sp. nov.)
Fig. 9
Holotype. ROM 32200, an adult female from the
forested hills about 2 km east of a farming village,
Gia Lia Province, Vietnam (14°20'29" N,
108'28'46" E, elevation 850 m) collected on 2 1 Sep-
tember 1997 by local Ba Na hunters.
Paratypes. ROM 32189 - 32198, 32201 - 207
(males) and ROM 32 199 (female) from vicinity of the
type locality, collected by N. Orlov, R. Murphy, L.
Lowcock, A. Lathrop, and local hunters between 21 -
26 June 1998.
Diagnosis. A large-sized Leptobrachium (two fe-
males, 72.1 - 84.2 and 17 males, 57.2 - 70.0 mrn)
with short legs, heels do not overlap when legs are at
right angles to body; basal webbing on toes. Dorsal
color pattern black with small red-orange diffuse
blotches near groin, flanks and on back; forelimbs and
hind limbs with alternating red (sometimes red-or-
ange) and black bands; ventral surface of limbs and
flanks black, groin and belly brown with white pus-
tules that extend up to chin. Dorsal half of iris white
with a strikingly white nictitating membrane around
the eye.
Leptobrachium banae has distinct red (gray in
preservative) bands on the limbs that distinguish it
from L. hendricboni which has no bands on the
limbs. The strikingly white porti.on of the iris distin-
guishes it from all species ofLeptobrachium except L.
xanthospilum, and some forms of L. chapaense. From
these two, it can be identified by its ventral color pat-
tern, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The venter of L. banae is
dark with some white mottling and spotting, while L.
chapaense is dark with distinct mottling and L. xan-
thospilum is entirely dark with indistinct spotting.
Description of holotype. Body long, head 37%
SVL; head large, width slightly greater than length,
nearly as broad as body; interorbital and frontal areas
Vietnamese Leptobrachium
flat and sloping ventrally near the snout; head dor-
soventrally compressed; canthus rostralis rounded,
loreal region oblique, slightly concave; nostrils half
the distance to tip of snout than to eyes; snout in dor-
sal view rounded, in lateral view sloped. Eyes large
and protuberant, eye equal to snout length; tympanum
large, 57% of eye diameter, and separated from eye by
a distance 81% of tympanum diameter; supratym-
panic fold extends from rear corner of eye to articula-
tion of jaw; interorbital distance 47% of head width;
posterior 3/4 of tongue free, distinctly notched;
vomerine teeth absent; choanae separated by a dis-
tance slightly more than internasal distance.
Fingers long (2 1% SVL), tips not wider than dig-
its; first finger shorter than second, latter equal to
fourth; webbing absent, lateral fringes weak; inner
metacarpal tubercle, oval, protuberant, outer metacar-
pal tubercle similar shape as inner, but slightly
smaller; midventral ridge of subarticular tubercles of
various sizes on each finger, no distinct tubercle at
base of digits; toes 1/3 webbed (11-2111.5-31112-
4IV4-2V); inner metatarsal tubercle large, length
equal to or slightly larger than first toe, outer metatar-
sal tubercle absent; subarticular tubercles like those of
hand on toes 3 , 4 and 5, two tubercles on second toe,
one on first; heels do not overlap when legs at right
angles to body.
Skin on dorsum smooth with microscopic net-
work of ridges that extend to a lesser extent onto dor-
sal surface of limbs; flanks, belly, chest and throat
with small pustules; ventral surface of legs smooth,
sparse pustules on the thighs that extend upward to
vent. Femoral gland distinct, more than 50% closer to
knee than to vent; chest gland immediately behind in-
sertion of arm; area between jaw articulation and eye
with minute tubercles.
Color in life. Dorsum and limbs dark brown with
red-orange spots on the back and limbs; legs and arms
with bright red and black bands; ventral side of arms,
legs and belly black, the latter with small pustules that
are more or less evenly distributed throughout. Hands
and feet gray, including tubercles; tips of digits white.
Nictatating membrane white; dorsal half of iris white.
Color in preservative: Dorsurn dark brown-black. Or-
ange spots turn cloudy gray in preservative, red
stripes on limbs white or gray in preservative; venter
dark brown, pustules on belly white.
Variation. Among the 19 specimens in the type
series, some variation is present in the dorsal color
pattern. Almost half the specimens have a uniformly
colored dorsum, brown (black in preservative) with
only a few spots of red (light gray in preservative) and
mottling dorsolaterally. Three specimens are much
lighter brown (gray in preservative) with dark mot-
tling, including an interorbital triangle. The remaining
eight specimens have a moderate amount of dark mot-
tling on the dorsum with no interorbital triangle.
Banding pattern on the limbs is present in all speci-
mens, but more obvious in some, and not consistent
with dorsal color patterns. Ventral color pattern is
consistent in all specimens.
Remarks. Our field work in Krong Pa coincided
with the beginning of the rainy season when it rained
everyday between 13 - 28 September, 1997. Follow-
ing a few days of the heavy rain, choruses of about 5
- 10 male L. banae could be heard in the distance.
Several adults were collected from a forest in which
all of the understory had been cut and largely re-
moved by local Vietnamese farmers. Individual frogs
were collected near a foot path up to 2 krn from the
nearest stream. One male was located by its call,
where it was in a hole, buried in mud and leaf litter
along with a Bufo galeatus. The call, repeated about
every minute, consisted of two loud "crock ... crock"
followed by 5 to 8 more staccato-like crocks.
Etymology. The specific epitaph is a patronym
from the word Ba Na which is the name of the ethnic
minority people in the area where this species was
collected. Their invaluable assistance allowed us to
document the herpetofauna of Krong Pa.
KEY TO THE SPECIES
OF LEPTOBRACHIUM
FROM INDOCHINA
I. Large conspicuous yellow spots along sides L. xan/hospilum
No large yellow spots on flanks 2
2. Red or orange spots on legs and or flanks 3
Red spots absent on legs and or flanks 4
3. Ventral surface of tibiotarsus dark with white L. chapaense
marbling; iris white, blue or black
Ventral surface of tibiotarsus entirely black with no L. banae
marbling; iris and palpebral membrane white
4. Snout acuminate in dorsal view; iris black L. nigmps
Snout rounded in dorsal view, spots on dorsum L. pullurn
present or absent; iris scarlet or L. hassel~ii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Collecting and export permits were made avail-
able through Vietnam's Institute of Ecology and Bio-
60
logical Resources (IEBR), Hanoi. Import permits for
frozen tissues and preserved specimens were issued
by Agriculture Canada and all collecting and euthana-
sia of specimens were performed under approved ani-
mal welfare protocols. This study was supported by
the Natural Sciences and Research Council (NSERC)
of Canada grant A3 148, by the generous assistance of
the ROM Sciences Fieldwork Fund, the ROM Future
Fund, the ROM Foundation, and the Department of
ROM Volunteers. We are extremely grateful to Prof.
Cao Van Sung, Director of IEBR, for assist in many
ways with on-site arrangements. Critical translations
of Chinese descriptions were provided by J. Fu. Dr.
Nguyen Van Sang and Pham Duc Tien provided criti-
cal assistance in 1996. Our heartfelt thanks go to
Chief Bou Neu and the Ba Na Minority families from
his village. Cathay Pacific Airlines graciously con-
tributed to o w efforts by providing free excess bag-
gage during international travels. Magnalight, C o l e
man, Johnson Wax, Tilley Endurables, and Benjamin
Film contributed significantly to the success of our
Vietnam biodiversity project. This is contribution 1 17
from the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation
Biology, ROM.
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