Bioacoustics of Raorchestes leiktho

Diagnosis and comparisons . A species of the genus Raorchestes (our former “ R . sp. 2”) that differs from geographically and molecularly relevant congeners of the Raorchestes parvulus group by the following combination of characters: (1) 15.72–15.80 mm SVL in males, n = 3; females unknown; (2) head about as wide as long (ratio HW/HL 0.92–1.10); (3) tympanum indistinct, supratympanic fold indistinct; (4) webbing between Toes 1 and 2 absent, between Toes 2 and 3 vestigial; webbing formula for Toes 3, 4 and 5: III 2–3½ IV 3 1/3–2 V; (5) tibiotarsal articulation reaching to level of mid-eye when hind limb is stretched alongside of body; (6) nuptial pad small and white; (7) inner metatarsal tubercle oval, outer metatarsal tubercle absent; (8) ridges or fringes along toes absent; (9) interorbital distance shorter than to subequal to eye horizontal diameter (ratio IOD/EYD 0.78–1.04); and (10) nostril closer to tip of snout than eye. Raorchestes leiktho sp. nov. differs from its South-east Asian congeners by the following characteristics (condition for R . leiktho in parentheses): Lectotype of Ixalus parvulus Boulenger, 1893 (i.e., MSNG 29838): shorter hind legs, SHL/SVL 0.41 (vs. 0.51–0.54); and head longer than wide (vs. about as long as wide). R. cangyuanensis : larger male adult size, SVL of adult males mostly> 17 mm (vs. < 17 mm ); more toe webbing (vs. less toe webbing with webbing between Toes 1 and 2 absent, between Toes 2 and 3 vestigial); SL/HL mostly <0.45 (vs. mostly>0.45); TFOL mostly <0.68 (vs. mostly>0.68); dominant frequency of male advertisement call 2789–2906 Hz (vs. 3618–4134 Hz), note duration 0.021 – 0.035 s (vs. 0.014 – 0.027 s). R. gryllus : a distinct calcar tubercle and a series of whitish tubercles along lower arm as well as on foot and tarsus present (vs. these structures absent). R. huanglianshan : larger male adult size, SVL of adult males mostly> 17 mm (vs. < 17 mm ); shorter hind legs, TFOL mostly <0.68 (vs. mostly>0.68), SHL/SVL <0.48 (vs.>0.50); and all ventral surfaces heavily suffused with dark pigment (vs. pale). R. longchuanensis : larger male adult size, SVL of adult males mostly> 17 mm (vs. < 17 mm ); shorter hind legs, TFOL mostly <0.68 (vs. mostly>0.68), SHL/SVL <0.5 (vs.>0.5); SL/HL mostly <0.4 (vs.>0.4); male advertisement call a trill (vs. single notes) with a dominant frequency of 3381–3467 Hz (vs. 3618–4134 Hz). R. menglaensis : larger male adult size, SVL of adult males mostly> 17 mm (vs. < 17 mm ); SL/HL mostly <0.42 (vs.>0.42); dominant frequency of male advertisement call 4005–4479 Hz (vs. 3618–4134 Hz), note duration 0.031 – 0.076 s (vs. 0.014 – 0.027 s). Raorchestes hillisi : shorter hind legs, SHL/SVL <0.49 (vs.>0.50); shorter foot, FL/SVL <0.39 (vs.>0.39); longer head, HL/SVL>0.4 (vs. <0.4); UEW/HL <0.21 (vs.>0.21). Raorchestes malipoensis : shorter hind legs, TFOL < 0.65 mm (vs.> 0.65 mm ); IOD/HL>0.4 (vs. mostly <0.4). Raorchestes rezakhani : inner metatarsal tubercle absent or indistinct (vs. distinct); UEW/HL>0.28 (vs. <0.28); IOD/HL>0.45 (vs. <0.45); HNL/ SVL <0.25 (vs.>0.25); HW/HL about 1.5 (vs. about 1.0); male advertisement call a trill (vs. single notes) with a dominant frequency of 3469–3680 Hz (vs. 3618–4134 Hz). R. tytthus and R. dulongensis : conspicuous white blotches present in groin and on thigh (vs. such white blotches absent); and by having longer hind legs that reach to beyond anterior margin of eye when hind limb is stretched alongside of body (vs. to posterior border of eye). Raorchestes mindat : fingers and toes with lateral dermal ridges on both sides (vs. all fingers and toes without lateral dermal ridges); inner metatarsal tubercle rounded (vs. oval); more toe webbing with webbing between Toes 1 and 2 vestigial and web reaching to second phalanx on inner side of Toe 2 and to inbetween phalanges 3 and 4 on outer side of Toe 3 (vs. webbing between Toes 1 and 2 absent, between Toes 2 and 3 vestigial); shorter hind legs, THL/ SVL <0.45 (vs.>0.45), SHL/SVL <0.5 (vs.>0.5).