Hylarana latouchii (Boulenger, 1899)

Nomenclature

Hylarana latouchii, commonly called the Kuatun frog, La Touche's frog, or broad-folded frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranidae. It was previously classified in the genus Rana. Its specific name honors the collector of the species' type series.

Taxonomic History

George Albert Boulenger described Hylarana latouchii based on three specimens collected by Irish ornithologist John D. La Touche in Guadun village, Wuyishan, Fujian, China.

Distribution

This species occurs in southern and eastern China, as well as Taiwan. Populations from Taiwan may represent a separate species distinct from mainland populations.

Habitat

Its natural habitats include subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist montane forests, rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, water storage areas, ponds, open excavations, irrigated land, and canals and ditches.

Conservation Status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature does not consider Hylarana latouchii a threatened species.

Size

Hylarana latouchii is a small frog; its maximum snout-vent length (SVL) reaches 4 cm (1.6 in). Males are smaller than females, with a maximum SVL of 38 mm (1.5 in) compared to 47 mm (1.9 in) for females.

Taiwanese Population Size

Reported mean SVLs for Taiwanese Hylarana latouchii are larger: 44 mm (1.7 in) for males and 55 mm (2.2 in) for females.

Reproduction

In Taiwan, Hylarana latouchii is reproductively active year-round.

Skin Compounds

Antimicrobial peptides can be isolated from the skin of this species.