Kon Tum Frilled Treefrog – Kurixalus motokawai – Nguyen, Matsui & Eto, 2014

Science name: Kurixalus motokawai – Nguyen, Matsui & Eto, 2014

Taxonomic:  Animalia>> Chordata>> Amphibia>> Anura >> Rhacophoridae >> motokawai

Species status: Endemic ; IUCN status: LC (Least Concern)

Description:

Physical Characteristics:
Body Size: Medium-sized, with males ranging from 23.2 to 28.4 mm in snout-vent length.
Skin: Males typically have a grayish head, while the dorsum varies from green to light brown. The species has prominent disk-like adhesive pads on the fingers and toes, which are characteristic of tree-dwelling frogs.
Coloration: The dorsal coloration is a mixture of green and light brown, and the ventral side is pale white, including the underside of the adhesive pads on the hands and feet.

Distribution and habitat:

Elevation: Found at elevations between 1,050 and 1,230 meters above sea level.
Geographic Range:
Kurixalus motokawai is known from the primary rainforests of the Annamite Mountains in Kon Tum and Gia Lai provinces in central Vietnam. Similar habitat and elevations in adjacent provinces like Quang Ngai and Quang Nam, as well as Attapeu and Xekong in Laos, may also host this species. The estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) is 11,350 km².
Habitat:
The species inhabits subtropical and tropical moist montane forests and is typically found on leaves of scrub vegetation and young trees, around 0.5–1 meter above the ground. It is likely to use tree hollows and forest plants to breed, similar to other Kurixalus species. However, ongoing agricultural expansion and forest removal threaten the habitat quality and extent in its range.

Behaviour and ecology:

Habits:
Kurixalus motokawai is arboreal, typically residing on vegetation in montane forests. It is nocturnal, like many tree frogs, and uses its adhesive pads for climbing. The species is believed to reproduce in still water, likely utilizing water accumulated in tree hollows or plants, although its reproductive strategy has not been thoroughly studied.

Conservation and status:

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria: Vulnerable (B1ab(iii)) due to its restricted range and ongoing habitat loss.

Population Trend: Decreasing, with widespread agricultural expansion in the Annamite Mountain region contributing to habitat degradation and fragmentation.

Threats:

The main threat to Kurixalus motokawai is habitat loss from deforestation for agriculture and logging. The species is also impacted by forest fragmentation due to human activities.
Conservation Actions:

Protecting the montane forest habitats where Kurixalus motokawai is found is essential for its conservation. Monitoring the effects of agricultural expansion in the Annamite Mountain region is also necessary to prevent further habitat degradation. Further studies are required to understand its population dynamics, reproductive behavior, and full distribution.
Remarks
Kurixalus motokawai was named in honor of Dr. Masaharu Motokawa from Kyoto University for his contributions to biodiversity research and conservation in Vietnam. This species was discovered in 2014, marking it as the second newly identified Kurixalus species in the Central Highlands of Vietnam that year, contributing to the rich diversity of amphibians in the region.