Leptolalax is a genus of frogs (orderAnura) in the familyMegophryidae. They are sometimes known as Asian toads, metacarpal-tubercled toads, or slender litter frogs, although many species-specific common names do not follow these conventions, and many species do not have common names. They are widely distributed in southeastern and eastern Asia, from southern China and northeastern India to the Malay Peninsula and Borneo.[1]Leptolalax are typically small and have a cryptic colour pattern and no obvious morphological characters useful in systematic studies. Consequently, both molecular genetic analyses and analysis of advertisement calls by male frogs have been important in identifying new species.[2][3][4]
Most Leptolalax species have been reported from very small areas and only a few species have large areas of occurrence. Whether this distinction is real or the widespread species represent cryptic species complexes remains to be confirmed.[3]
Species
In 2016, 50 species were known in the genus. New species are still being described, including three in 2013, four in 2014, one in 2015, and six in 2016:[1]
^ abcFrost, Darrel R. (2014). "Leptolalax Dubois, 1980". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
^Matsui, M. (1997). "Call characteristics of Malaysian Leptolalax with a description of two new species (Anura: Pelobatidae)". Copeia. 1997 (1): 158–165. doi:10.2307/1447851. JSTOR1447851.
^A Field Guide to the Frogs of Borneo, Third Edition
^Rowley, J.J.L., Le, D.T.T, Tran, D.T.A., & Hoang, H.D. (2011). "A new species of Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from southern Vietnam." Zootaxa 2796: 15-28.