Hylarana taipehensis is a species of "true frog", family Ranidae. It has several common names, including Taipei frog, Taipei grass frog, two-striped grass frog, or striped slender frog.[2][3][4] Following its redelimitation in 2019, its range is now believed to extend from Taiwan and southern China (including Hainan) to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and eastern Thailand.[2] It has been observed as high as 800 meters above sea level.[3]

Hylarana taipehensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ranidae
Genus: Hylarana
Species:
H. taipehensis
Binomial name
Hylarana taipehensis
(Van Denburgh, 1909)
Synonyms[2]
  • Rana taipehensis Van Denburgh, 1909

Description

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Males are usually less than 3 cm (1.2 in) in snout-vent length and females less than 4 cm (1.6 in).[4] The dorsum is yellowish green to greenish brown and the sides are light yellowish brown. Paired dorso-lateral glandular folds are visible as brownish black lines. The limbs are light brown and have dark brown stripes. The abdomen and neck have tiny spots and have three brownish black stripes each. The tympanum and the region behind and below it are dark blackish brown in color.[3]

Habitat and conservation

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Hylarana taipehensis occurs in open, grassy wetlands, rice paddies, river floodplains, and forest ponds and swampy areas in deciduous forests. It is often common. Breeding takes place at water edges sheltered by thickets.[5]

Hylarana taipehensis adapts to agricultural conditions; it could be threatened by pesticides. It is sometimes persecuted as a pest.[5] In Taiwan, it is considered endangered.[4] However, it is not considered threatened overall, and occurs in many protected areas.[5] Scientists consider the population stable but note that it is sensitive to changes in habitat. Chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, and pollution can all harm this frog.[3]

References

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  1. ^ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2022). "Taipei Frog: Hylarana taipehensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T58730A63848371. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T58730A63848371.en. 58730. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Frost, Darrel R. (2021). "Hylarana taipehensis (Van Denburgh, 1909)". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Hylarana taipehensis Taipei frog". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2010. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Lien, C.-T.; Lin, H.-C. & Lue, K.-Y. (2007). "Demography of two small breeding populations of Taipei Grass Frog, Rana taipehensis van Denburgh (Amphibia, Anura)". BioFormosa. 42: 17–24.
  5. ^ a b c Peter Paul van Dijk, Bryan Stuart, Michael Wai Neng Lau, Bosco Chan, Yuan Zhigang, Lue Kuangyang, Chou Wenhao, Sushil Dutta, Saibal Sengupta, Annemarie Ohler, Sabitry Bordoloi, Ghazi S.M. Asmat (2004). "Hylarana taipehensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T58730A11832766. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T58730A11832766.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)