Zhangixalus thaoae, or Thao's tree frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae found in Lào Cai province, northwestern Vietnam. It was described by Nguyen et al. in 2024 by specimens found in evergreen montane tropical forest at an elevation of about 1,883 meters above sea level.[1][2] The species is named after the first author's wife, Nguyen Thi Thanh Thao, as a sign of gratitude for her support of research activities.[1]
| Zhangixalus thaoae | |
|---|---|
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| Adult male holotype | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Rhacophoridae |
| Genus: | Zhangixalus |
| Species: | Z. thaoae
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| Binomial name | |
| Zhangixalus thaoae Nguyen et al., 2024
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It mostly resembles Z. yaoshanensis but is distinguished by its smaller size (SVL 30.1–32.2 mm in males), coloration, and is genetically distant enough to be recognized as a separate species. Genetically, Z. thaoae is closest to Z. jodiae, Z. pinglongensis, and Z. yaoshanensis in the Z. chenfui group. According to the authors of the description, it is possible that in the future the species will be found in the evergreen forests of Guangxi province in southern China. Due to the lack of data on the species, the authors of the description recommended that the IUCN assign it Data Deficient status.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Nguyen, T. T.; Nguyen, H. H.; Ninh, H. T.; Le, L. T. H.; Bui, H. T.; Orlov, N.; Hoang, C. V.; Ziegler, T. (2024). "Zhangixalus thaoae sp. nov., a new green treefrog species from Vietnam (Anura, Rhacophoridae)". ZooKeys (1197): 93–113. Bibcode:2024ZooK.1197...93N. doi:10.3897/zookeys.1197.104851. PMC 11019256. PMID 38628553.
- ^ Frost, Darrel R. "Zhangixalus thaoae Nguyen, Nguyen, Ninh, Le, Bui, Orlov, Hoang, and Ziegler, 2024". Amphibian Species of the World, an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
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