The Siamese cascade frog or spotted-snout frog (''Wijayarana melasma'') is a species of
frog
A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" ''Triadobatrachus'' is ...
s in the family
Ranidae. It is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...
to western and northern
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
and known from
Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi ( th, กาญจนบุรี, ) is a town municipality (''thesaban mueang'') in the west of Thailand and part of Kanchanaburi Province. In 2006 it had a population of 31,327. That number was reduced to 25,651 in 2017. The town ...
,
Prachuap Kiri Khan, and
Chiang Mai Province
Chiang Mai ( th, เชียงใหม่, ; nod, , ) is the largest Province (''changwat'') of Thailand. It lies in upper northern Thailand and has a population of 1.78 million people. It is bordered by Chiang Rai to the northeast, Lam ...
s.
[
]
Taxonomy
''Wijayarana melasma'' is sometimes placed in the genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''Odorrana
''Odorrana'' (commonly known as the odorous frog) is a genus of true frogs (Ranidae) from East Asia and surrounding regions. Many of these frogs inhabit fast-flowing mountain streams, and they typically have a remarkably pointed snout, as evidenc ...
'', but actually seems to belong neither there nor in ''Huia'', at least if the latter genus is defined in the strict sense. In 2021, it was reclassified into the new genus ''Wijayarana''.
Description
Males in the type series
In biology, a type is a particular specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached. In other words, a type is an example that serves to anchor or centralizes t ...
measure in snout–vent length. No females were collected but a photographed individual presumed to be female measured in snout–vent length.
The overall appearance of this species is moderately slender. The head is narrow with obtusely pointed snout. The tympanum is distinct. The fingers are unwebbed but have tips that are expanded to small discs; the toes are strongly webbed and have discs at their tips. Skin on the dorsum is shagreened; on the sides and venter skin is smooth. The dorsolateral fold is weak.
Habitat and conservation
''Wijayarana melasma'' live near streams and waterfalls in moist lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen forestat elevations of above sea level. The known locations are within protected areas (including Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park
Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park ( th, อุทยานแห่งชาติเฉลิมรัตนโกสินทร์), also known as Tham Than Lot National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติถ้ำธารลอ ...
and Kaeng Krachan National Park
Kaeng Krachan National Park ( th, อุทยานแห่งชาติแก่งกระจาน, , ) is the largest national park of Thailand. It is on the border with Burma, contiguous with the Tanintharyi Nature Reserve. It is a pop ...
), although habitat change from agriculture, fire, tourism
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mor ...
development, and illegal logging
Illegal logging is the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws. The harvesting procedure itself may be illegal, including using corruption, corrupt means to gain access to forests; extraction without permission, o ...
continues to occur.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2244316
Wijayarana
Frogs of Asia
Amphibians of Thailand
Endemic fauna of Thailand
Amphibians described in 2005
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot