Thursday, February 23, 2012

[Herpetology • 2005] Ansonia kraensis • A New Ansonia (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae) from the Isthmus of Kra, Thailand


Kra Stream Toad | Ansonia kraensis 

Abstract
A new species of torrent-dwelling bufonid frog of the genus Ansonia is described from the Isthmus of Kra, Thailand. Ansonia kraensis is morphologically similar to Malaysian A. malayana, but differs from it in ventral coloration and larval morphology. Occurrence of A. kraensis in this region suggests a heterogeneous nature of the anuran fauna between northern and southern regions of the Malay Peninsula.
Keywords: Ansonia new species, Ansonia malayana, Zoogeography, Thailand, Malay Peninsula




Range Description: This species is known only from the Isthmus of Kra in southern Thailand (Matsui et al., 2005). There are records from: Punyaban waterfall, Raksawarn Public Park, Ranong Spa, in Ranong Province; Klong Hat Som Pen, Muang, in Ranong Province; and Kao Lak, in Phang Nga Province (Matsui et al., 2005). In addition, specimens from Tasan, in southern Thailand, formerly considered to belong to Ansonia malayana, are now considered to belong to A. kraensis (Grismer, 2006). It is possible that other records of A. malayanus from southern Thailand might refer to this species. The type locality (Punyaban waterfall) is at 113m asl, but no information has been provided on its elevation range.
Ansonia kraensis http://iucnredlist.org/

Masafumi Matsui, Wichase Khonsue, and Jarujin Nabhitabhata, 2005: A New Ansonia from the Isthmus of Kra, Thailand (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae). Zoological Science, 22 7:809–814