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WONDERFUL COLOURS OF VIETNAMESE TREE FROGS
Phùng Mỹ Trung - Admin Vietnam forest creatures
Nguyễn Quảng Trường - Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology - no 18 Hoang Quoc Viet St., Hanoi, VIETNAM
Nguyễn thị Liên Thương - University of Ulsan.San 29, Muger 2-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan 680-749, South-Korea
Nguyễn Thiên Tạo - Vietnam National Museum of Nature - Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology
Tree frog genus is the most beautiful amphibians in Vietnam. Sixteen species of tree frogs have been discovered in the country at different heights, from 100 to 3000 m above sea level. Tree frogs live in primary forests only and they need to be protected. Vietnam forest creatures website introduces the beauty of some tree frog species
1/ Living at the height of 3000m above sea level, the tree frog species named Rhacophorus dugritei lays its eggs in early April to avoid the cold winter season in Fansipan, the highest mountain in Indochina. This is the tree frog species living at the highest height in Southeast Asia.
2/ Living at the height of 2400-2500m is Rhacophorus hoanglienensis species. This species was discovered in 2001 by Vietnamese and Russian scientists in the Hoang Lien National Park. It is very difficult to take pictures and collect speciment of this species in nature, even for amphibian researchers.
3/ Chuyangsin Rhacophorus chuyangsinensis was discovered in 2008 at the height of 2200m in Chu Yang Sin National Park. This frog is very beautiful with its skin and eyes combine yellow, dark brown, red, black and green
4/ Shiny green skin with black spots, a white belly and toe-pads on their feet help them to nocturnal and mate, Rhacophorus dennysi is among the best climbers and long jumpers of amphibians in Vietnam
5/ Rhacophorus calcaneus is the smallest tree frog species in Vietnam. They like dense forests with many streams
6/ Rhacophorus kio often lives in places where there are waterfalls and high humidity. Sometimes they are seen in secondary forests in Vietnam
7/ With blazing red stomachs that look like ripening fruits in the forest and silver white backs, Rhacophorus rhodopus is very special.
8/ Rhacophorus annamensis experiences great changes of appearance during their growth process. Amphibian experts who don’t research this species may be surprised about its changes
9/ Even enemies of Rhacohorus feae cannot recognise them if they are standing on a fresh tree branch because its colour is similar to leaves and branches in forest.
10/ German amphibian experts Ziegler and Kohler discovered Orlovi Rhacophorus olovi species in the central province of Ha Tinh. This is an endemic species in Vietnam
11/ It is possible that this is the tree frog species that lives at the lowest height in Vietnam. In 1999, Russian and German scientists found them in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, at the height of 900m above sea level. In 2000, they were discovered in the Vinh Cuu Nature Reserve in the southern province of Dong Nai
12/ Living on the Yen Tu range of mounts in Quang Ninh province, Rhacophorus maximus can stand firmly on bamboo, cane brakes and other trees on stream banks to seek food
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