New record and dietary ecology of a poorly-known treefrog, Zhangixalus pachyproctus Yu, Hui, Hou, Wu, Rao & Yang, 2019 (Anura, Rhacophoridae) in Vietnam

Abstract

The White-lipped Treefrog Zhangixalus pachyproctus Yu, Hui, Hou, Wu, Rao & Yang, 2019 was previously confused with Zhangixalus smaragdinus (Blyth, 1852). Records of Zhangixalus smaragdinus from Yunnan (China), Vietnam and Thailand were recognised as a misidentification and this taxon was subsequently described as a new species, based on morphological and molecular evidence. This species is currently known from southern China, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. However, knowledge about its natural history and feeding ecology is virtually lacking. We herein report a newly-discovered population of Zhangixalus pachyproctus from Lang Son Province, northern Vietnam. In addition, we provide novel data about the diet of Z. pachyproctus, based on stomach content analyses of 38 individuals (37 males and one female). A total of 26 prey categories with 681 items were found in the stomachs of Z. pachyproctus. The dominant prey items of the species were Orthoptera (Acrididae, Tettigoniidae), Coleoptera (Languriida, Leiodidae, larvae, other Coleoptera), Mantodea (Mantidae) and Blattodea (Blaberidae, Blattidae, other Blattodea). Coleoptera (Coccinellidae, Cupedidae, Elateridae, Languriidae Leiodidae, Tenebrionidae, larvae and other Coleoptera) was the category with the highest frequency of prey items, found in 24 stomachs. The most important (IRI) groups amongst the prey of Z. pachyproctus were Coleoptera (24.52%) and followed by Orthoptera (24.43%), Blattodea (9.12%), Mantidae (8.14%) and Hemiptera (4.05%).