Tuesday, July 5, 2011

[Herpetology • 2004] Philautus petilus • A New Philautus (Rhacophoridae) from northern Laos


Philautus petilus Stuart & Heatwole, 2004

Figure 1B. The adult female holotype (FMNH 257902) of Philautus petilus sp. nov.
Photograph by Bryan L. Stuart.


Abstract
A new Philautus is described from Phou Dendin National Biodiversity Conservation Area in northern Laos. Philautus petilus sp. nov. is most remarkable by having a very slender, elongate habitus. Other distinguishing characteristics include having a tympanum diameter 80% of the eye diameter, white asperities on the dorsum, and distinctive coloration consisting of a soft yellow-beige dorsolateral surface with broken black stripes posteriorly, a lavender wash on dorsal surface of limbs, upper lip, and sides, a black stripe below edge of canthus extending from snout tip to flanks near level of mid-body, and a black spot equal in diameter to the tympanum located just anterior to the inguinal region.

Key words. - Laos, new species, Philautus, Rhacophoridae



Figure 1A. Map showing the type locality (black dot) of Philautus petilus sp. nov. in Phongsaly Province, northern Laos.



Figure 1A-C. A. Map showing the type locality (black dot) of Philautus petilus sp. nov. in Phongsaly Province, northern Laos. B. The adult female holotype (FMNH 257902) of Philautus petilus sp. nov., anesthetized prior to preservation. Photograph by Bryan L. Stuart. C. The hand of the adult female holotype (FMNH 257902) of Philautus petilus sp. nov. in preservation. Photograph by Nikolai L. Orlov.


Philautus petilus Stuart & Heatwole, 2004

Type locality: Phou Dendin National Biodiversity Conservation Area, Phongsaly District, Phongsaly Province, Laos, at 600 m elevation.


Bryan L. Stuart and Harold Heatwole. 2004. A New Philautus (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae) from northern Laos. Asiatic Herpetological Research. 10: 17-21. http://asiatic-herpetological.org/Archive/Volume%2010/10_04.pdf