This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Lin, Chun-Fu, Chang, Chunwen, Matsui, Masafumi, Shen, Chin-Chia, Tominaga, Atsushi, Lin, Si-Min (2025): Description of a new music frog (Anura, Ranidae, Nidirana) critically endangered in Taiwan. ZooKeys 1229: 245-273, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1229.139344

Abstract

Nidirana okinavana (Boettger, 1895) is a small-sized ranid species belonging to the East Asian genus Nidirana Dubois, 1992. Previous studies have indicated that this species was exclusively distributed on Ishigaki and Iriomote islands in the southern Ryukyus, as well as two extremely small wetland habitats in central Taiwan. Such a restricted distribution makes it one of the most endangered frog species in both Taiwan and Japan. By using molecular, morphological, and acoustic analyses, our study reveals significant divergence between the Taiwanese and Japanese clades, supporting the recognition of the Taiwanese clade as a distinct species, described herein as Nidirana shyhhuangi sp. nov. Compared to Nidirana okinavana sensu stricto from the southern Ryukyus, the Nidirana shyhhuangi sp. nov. is characterized by a significantly smaller and non-overlapping body size, relatively longer forelimbs and hindlimbs, smaller internostril and interorbital distances, with a higher number of cross bands on thigh and shank. Acoustic analyses reveal that the Nidirana shyhhuangi sp. nov. produces calls with a rapid tempo and higher pulse number, with a higher dominant frequency compared to the Japanese clade. Due to the extremely limited distribution of this species to two small sites on Taiwan, and continuing decline in quality of its habitat, we propose that it should be classified as Critically Endangered (CR) under the IUCN criteria. Immediate and comprehensive in situ and ex situ conservation actions are necessary to ensure the sustainable viability of the population.

GBIF url: https://www.gbif.org/dataset/aaea1fc4-fc4d-45af-a081-ce026f3b7ca5
Homepage: https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/summary/6B5BF0F70BCB5EA88656BBF77A266B16
Citation: Lin C, Chang C, Matsui M, Shen C, Tominaga A, Lin S, pensoft (2025). Description of a new music frog (Anura, Ranidae, Nidirana) critically endangered in Taiwan. ZooKeys. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/zd2kf5 accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-02-12.