Vampire tree frog – Rhacophorus vampyrus – Rowley, Le, Thi, Stuart & Hoang, 2010

Science name: Rhacophorus vampyrus – Rowley, Le, Thi, Stuart & Hoang, 2010

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

Species status: Endemic ; IUCN status: EN (Endangered Species)

Description:

Physical Characteristics:
Rhacophorus vampyrus is a small frog with a distinctive appearance. The body is typically reddish-brown, while the throat, chest, and belly are white. The sides of the body and the front and back of the thighs are black, and the webbing between the toes ranges from gray to black. The frog’s body is slightly flattened, and its head is about 90% as wide as it is long. The snout is short and slightly projects beyond the lower jaw. Notably, the species gets its common name “Vampire Flying Frog” from the tadpoles, which possess black “fang-like” structures that protrude from their mouths. These fang-like appendages are not true teeth but are used by the tadpoles during their oophagous feeding behavior.

Distribution and habitat:

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria:
Rhacophorus vampyrus is listed as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List under the criteria B1ab(i,iii). Its limited distribution, with only two known locations and an estimated extent of occurrence of 2,082 km², coupled with ongoing habitat degradation, justifies its endangered status. The species was last assessed in 2014, with a subsequent amendment in 2020.

Threats:
The primary threat to Rhacophorus vampyrus is habitat loss due to deforestation and habitat fragmentation. The species relies on high-quality, moist evergreen forests for survival, and any decline in the extent or quality of these habitats has a direct impact on its population. Human activities such as logging, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development in the montane regions of southern Vietnam pose significant risks to the frog’s habitat.

Conservation Actions:
Rhacophorus vampyrus occurs in two protected areas: Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park and Ta Dung Nature Reserve. However, continued monitoring of its population and habitat is essential, as the species’ range is limited and fragmented. Conservation actions should focus on protecting and restoring its montane forest habitat and ensuring that the tree hollows it depends on for breeding remain undisturbed. Further research is also needed to better understand its population size, reproductive behavior, and the extent of its distribution in adjacent regions.

Behaviour and ecology:

Lifestyle:
Rhacophorus vampyrus is an arboreal species that thrives in the dense canopy of montane forests. It is capable of gliding between trees using its webbed feet. This species is unique among the genus Rhacophorus in its reproductive strategy. The frogs breed in water-filled tree hollows, where females deposit eggs in foam nests. Tadpoles develop inside these tree hollows and feed on “trophic eggs” provided by the female, making them oophagous. The species is known to breed from July to May, and nests are usually constructed 30 to 120 cm above the ground in small to medium-sized tree hollows.

Reproduction:
Rhacophorus vampyrus exhibits a unique form of parental care, where females lay trophic eggs inside tree hollows to feed their tadpoles. The tadpoles do not consume any other food and rely entirely on the eggs laid by the female for their nourishment. The species typically lays clutches of up to 250 eggs in foam nests within tree hollows. After hatching, the tadpoles develop inside the tree hollows, a habitat that offers protection from predators and a stable environment for growth.

Conservation and status:

IUCN Red List Category and Criteria:
Rhacophorus vampyrus is listed as “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List under the criteria B1ab(i,iii). Its limited distribution, with only two known locations and an estimated extent of occurrence of 2,082 km², coupled with ongoing habitat degradation, justifies its endangered status. The species was last assessed in 2014, with a subsequent amendment in 2020.

Threats:
The primary threat to Rhacophorus vampyrus is habitat loss due to deforestation and habitat fragmentation. The species relies on high-quality, moist evergreen forests for survival, and any decline in the extent or quality of these habitats has a direct impact on its population. Human activities such as logging, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development in the montane regions of southern Vietnam pose significant risks to the frog’s habitat.

Conservation Actions:
Rhacophorus vampyrus occurs in two protected areas: Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park and Ta Dung Nature Reserve. However, continued monitoring of its population and habitat is essential, as the species’ range is limited and fragmented. Conservation actions should focus on protecting and restoring its montane forest habitat and ensuring that the tree hollows it depends on for breeding remain undisturbed. Further research is also needed to better understand its population size, reproductive behavior, and the extent of its distribution in adjacent regions.