
Fig 1

Fig 2
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Family : BUFONIDAE
Species : Rentapia flavomaculata
Size (snout to vent) : Female 10.2 cm, Male 7.9 cm
Rentapia flavomaculata
(Yellow-spotted Tree Toad), is a member of a small group of toads formerly considered
to be part of the genus Pedostibes; they appear to be the only examples of truly arboreal toads. Figure 1 is an
example seen high in the forest canopy in Peninsular Malaysia at an
estimated height of around 25 metres.
This species inhabits lowland primary forest or mature secondary forest up
to 525 metres elevation (Chan et al, 2020). It
is normally only seen at ground level when adults descend from the forest canopy
to breed in quiet pools and slow-flowing, forest streams.
Their diet comprises mainly insects, particularly ants.
This species can be identified in the field by its relatively large size, its
long, slender legs and its long fingers. The paratoid gland behind the eye
is small. Males are typically brownish-orange, whereas females are pale green with yellow spots
and some elongated markings.
Rentapia flavomaculata occurs in southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia
as far south as Kota Tinggi, Johor (Chan et al, 2020).
Fig 1 : Strong eyeshine reveals the presence of a female tree toad from Sungai Relau, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia.
It was
located 25 metres up in the forest canopy near a fast-flowing river
fed by small, muddy tributaries. The pale underside of the throat bears
yellow spots, and the sides of the head appear to be greenish.
Fig 2 : Lowland primary forest and riverine habitat at Sungai Relau,
Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia; location of the example Rentapia
flavomaculata in Figure 1.
Fig 3 : This image of a female shows patterning and colouration that is typical in
examples from Peninsular Malaysia.
References :
Chan, K. O., Abraham, R. K., & Badli-Sham, B.
H. (2020). A revision of the Asian tree toad complex Rentapia hosii
(Anura: Bufonidae) with the description of a new species from Peninsular
Malaysia. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 68: 595-607.
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