Appleby’s Leaf-litter Toad – Leptobrachella applebyi – (Rowley & Cao, 2009)

Science name: Leptobrachella applebyi – (Rowley & Cao, 2009)

Taxonomic:  Animalia>> Chordata>> Amphibia>> Anura >> Megophryidae >> applebyi

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

Description:

Physical Characteristics:
Body Size: Males range from 19.6–20.8 mm in snout-vent length (SVL), while the single known female measured 21.7 mm SVL.
Skin: The dorsal skin is smooth and dark brown, sometimes mottled, with a darker patch between the axillae. The venter is dark brownish-pink with white speckles.
Head: Snout is rounded to truncate in lateral view, with a rounded canthus rostralis and a concave loreal region. The nostrils are closer to the snout than the eye. It has a distinct round tympanum and weak supratympanic ridge.
Limbs: Fingers lack webbing but have slight dermal fringes. Toes have minimal basal webbing, but no dermal fringes. The tibia is relatively short and bulky.
Coloration: A black stripe runs from the canthus rostralis through the eye to the tympanum, which is mostly covered by the stripe. Flanks have 1–4 black blotches, and there is a large blotch anterior to the sacrum. The limbs may have indistinct, diffuse bands, and the iris ranges from gold to reddish copper.

Distribution and habitat:

Elevation: Found at elevations between 1,312 and 1,722 meters above sea level.

Geographic Range:

Leptobrachella applebyi is known from two localities: Song Thanh Proposed Nature Reserve in Quang Nam Province, and Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve in Kon Tum Province, Vietnam. Intensive surveys at lower elevations have failed to detect the species, suggesting it may be restricted to higher elevations.
Habitat:

This species inhabits steep montane evergreen forests, closely associated with rocky stream headwaters. It has not been observed more than 2 meters from water. It may utilize similar but disturbed habitats outside protected areas, although the quality of such habitats is declining due to human activities.

Behaviour and ecology:

Breeding:
Males have been observed calling in March and July, though much of the species’ reproductive biology remains unknown. The eggs and larvae have not been documented. The species seems to be a stream-breeder, closely tied to rocky headwaters in its montane habitat.

Conservation and status:

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

Population Trend: Decreasing.

Threats:

The primary threat to Leptobrachella applebyi is habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural expansion, which impact the quality and extent of the montane evergreen forests it inhabits.
Conservation Actions:

Protecting its high-elevation habitats is crucial for conservation. Both localities where the species is found are in protected areas, but habitat degradation outside these reserves may affect the species’ long-term survival. Further surveys are needed to better understand its population size, reproductive behavior, and potential range extensions.