Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 993-996 (2020) (published online on 27 November 2020)

New locality of the Angular-headed crocodile newt Tylototriton anguliceps Le et al., 2015, with remarks on the distribution of the genus in Thailand

Axel Hernandez1 and Porrawee Pomchote2,**

The salamandrid genus Tylototriton Anderson, 1871, Observations of habitats were made on field trips, both also known as crocodile newts, currently includes five on sunny and on rainy days. We have surveyed almost species in northern and northeastern regions of Thailand,all types of habitat including permanent and temporary Tylototriton uyenoi, Tylototriton panhai, Tylototriton streams but also ponds (including artificial reservoirs anguliceps, Tylototriton verrucosus and Tylototriton and irrigation canals), and surrounding terrestrial phukhaensis (Nishikawa et al., 2013; Le et al., 2015; habitats, stumps, stones and leaf litter. We photographed Pomchote et al., 2020a,b). In these mountain regions, each taxon observed including plant and tree species Crocodile newts inhabit small range of distributionfor identification (Sony Nex-5; Sony Ltd., Japan). within subtropical, moist broad-leaf and evergreen Coordinates, geographic and elevational data were montane forests close to water bodies at moderate to collected in situ using a GPS (Garmin Montana 680; high elevations between 1,250 and 1,900 m above sea Garmin Ltd., Olahe, KS, USA) and located on maps. level (a.s.l.) (Hernandez et al., 2018). Consequently, For habitat analysis, the temperature and pH in water their exact distribution, taxonomic status and habitat were measured in situ using an Expresstech @ LCD requirements in Thailand are still misunderstood and pH Medidor Digital (Expresstech, Kingpow Company new data are urgently needed to ensure conservation Limited, Hong-Kong, China). measures (Dowwiangkang et al., 2018; Hernandez For morphological analysis of the Thai specimens, and Pomchote, 2020a,b; Pomchote et al., 2020a,b).a,b).). dial calipers were used (Louisware LSWCL1810, Recently, a new population of Tylototriton sp. was Louisware Ltd., USA) for measurements to the nearest recorded in evergreen forests of northern Thailand 0.1 mm. Data for comparisons were obtained from (Nishikawa et al., 2013). Subsequently, a new species original description provided by Le et al. (2015) and Tylototriton anguliceps was described formerly from Pomchote et al. (2020a,b). We wore disposable vinyl northwestern Vietnam by Le et al. (2015). These authors gloves that have been rinsed with distilled or sterilised identified the Thailand population from Doi Lahnga as water and changed them between animals to prevent being the same species, T. anguliceps (Le et al., 2015). the likelihood of cross contamination among samples. We conducted field work in 2018‒2019 respectively, All animals were then released at the exact place of during the monsoon season (April to September) in capture for conservation purposes following national northwestern, northern, and northeastern Thailand and international ethics statement. to study the natural history of the genus Tylototriton. Tylototriton anguliceps was recorded at Khun Chae National Park, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand (18°50’9.1”N, 99°25’35.6”E) at 1,435 m a.s.l. in July 2019. Two adult specimens were found hiding under an amount of volcanic rocks in a coffee plantation near a slow-flowing stream and one ephemeral pond (Fig. 1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences 1). The air temperature was 24.2 °C with a relative and Technics, University Pasquale Paoli of Corsica, Corte, humidity of 84.5%. We confirmed that the specimens 20250, France. 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn found were both males by their rounded cloaca. The University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. first individual had 15 dorsolateral glandular warts (Fig. * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] 2A) and measured a total length of 165.7 mm (TL). Its 994 Axel Hernandez & Porrawee Pomchote

species relatives of the subgenus Tylototriton including T. shanjing, T. verrucosus, T. kweichowensis and T. yangi in China, which are all found in some cases within human plantation including rice paddy fields, tomato and cabbage cultures of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, southern China (Hernandez, 2016a; Pomchote et al., 2020a). Additionally, new records confirmed three other localities for T. anguliceps in northern Thailand including Doi Lahnga, Doi Wiang Pha and Si Dong Yen, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces at elevations of 1,300-1,800 m a.s.l. (Nishikawa et al. 2013; Hernandez, 2016a,b; Hernandez et al. 2019). The species is also found in adjacent countries comprising northwestern Vietnam, northern Laos and northeastern Thailand at elevations of 1,300-1,800 m a.s.l (Le et al., 2015; Phimmachak et al., 2015). To date, T. panhai and T. uyenoi show the southernmost distribution for the whole genus in southeastern Asia (Hernandez, 2017; Hernandez et al., 2019). However, the current distribution of all crocodile newts in Thailand is discontinuous in different small mountainous areas and subsequently, poorly known to date. Recent field surveys found that Tylototriton uyenoi occurs from the Figure 1. Habitat of Tylototriton anguliceps in Khun Chae Daen Lao Hills, the Thanon Thong Chai Range up to National Park, northern Thailand.

general colouration was dark brown to black on the dorsal parts while the venter was slightly lighter; dorsal and ventral head, parotoids, vertebral ridge, rib nodules, limbs, part of ventral trunk, pectoral and pubic regions, vent, and whole tail, were orange. The second specimen had 15 dorsolateral glandular warts with a bifurcated tail (Fig. 2B) and measured a total length of 159.4 mm. Its general colouration was dark brown to black on the dorsal parts while the venter was slightly lighter; dorsal and ventral head, parotoids, vertebral ridge, rib nodules, limbs, part of ventral trunk, pectoral and pubic regions, vent, and whole tail, were dark orange. Several eggs were also observed in both aquatic sites. They were deposited one by one in the submerged vegetation or under debris. This report confirms the presence of a southern new population of Tylototriton anguliceps in Khun Chae National Park, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. The species was observed in human landscapes including coffee plantations surrounded by scattered Figure 2. A. The first adult specimen of T. anguliceps found at pieces of evergreen and broad-leaved forests (Pomchote Khun Chae National Park, northern Thailand. B. Another adult et al., 2020a; this study). This fact is similar to other male specimen with a tail bifurcation in the same site. New locality of the Angular-headed crocodile newt in Thailand 995 the Dawna-Tenasserim Range, Kanchanaburi province Hernandez, A. (2015): Etude des Amphibiens Urodèles en voie and probably adjacent Myanmar (Pomchote et al., 2008; d’extinction et mise en place de projets de conservation au Parc Nishikawa et al., 2013; Hernandez, 2016a,b, 2017; Zoologique de Thoiry. Unpublished MSc thesis, University of Corsica, Corte, France. Hernandez et al., 2019; Dowwiangkan et al., 2018; Hernandez, A. (2016a): Crocodile Newts, The Primitive Hernandez and Pomchote, 2020b). Tylototriton panhai Salamandridae from Asia (Genera Echinotriton and Tylototriton). is only known from the Luang Prabang Ecoregion Frankfurt, Germany. Chimaira Editions. comprising Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, Phetchabun and Hernandez, A. (2016b): Tylototriton Anderson, 1871: Observation Loei provinces in northeastern Thailand, and east into du genre en Thaïlande et éléments de réflexions sur la diversité Sainyabuli province, Botene District in Laos (Pomchote des sous-genres Yaotriton et Tylototriton. Situla Revue et al., 2008; Nishikawa et al., 2013; Hernandez, 2015, Francophone d’Herpétoculture 28: 12–25.–25.25. Hernandez, A. (2017): New localities for Tylototriton panhai and 2016a,b, 2017; Phimmachak et al., 2015; Hernandez Tylototriton uyenoi Nishikawa, Khonsue, Pomchote & Matsui, et al., 2019; Hernandez and Pomchote, 2020a). T. 2013 in northern Thailand. Bulletin la Société Herpétologique verrucosus was recently recorded in Doi Chang, de France 162: 110–112. northern Thailand at 1,500 m a.s.l. while it was only Hernandez, A., Escoriza, D., Hou, M. (2018): Patterns of niche known from Yunnan province in China (Hernandez, diversification in south-east Asian crocodile newts. Zoologischer 2016b; Pomchote et al., 2020a). Anzeiger 276: 86–93. Hernandez, A., Pomchote, P. (2020a): Habitat, distribution and life We report here the first tail bifurcation found in history of the polytypic Panha’s Crocodile Newt, Tylototriton Tylototriton. This new finding is rarely found in panhai in northeastern Thailand. Alytes 37: 26–47. salamanders and especially within salamandrids. This Hernandez, A., Pomchote, P. (2020b): New southernmost record for abnormality was reviewed intensively by Henle et the genus Tylototriton in Asia: Tylototriton uyenoi Nishikawa, al. (2012). The authors reported 19 references from Khonsue, Pomchote and Matsui 2013 discovered in Khao literature documenting post larval tail bifurcation in 13 Laem National Park, Kanchanaburi province, western Thailand. salamander species among eight genera (Ambystoma, Bulletin de la Société Herpétologique de France 175: 164–167. Henle, K., Mester, B., Lengyel, S., Puky, M. (2012): A review Plethodon, Chioglossa, Cynops, Lissotriton, of a rare type of anomaly in amphibians, tail duplication and Notophthalmus, Salamandra and Triturus). This bifurcation, with description of three new cases in European condition can be replicated experimentally by inflicting species (Triturus dobrogicus, Triturus carnifex, and Hyla irregular damage to the tail including partial spinal arborea). Journal of Herpetology 46: 451–455. cord removal or more generally, can be considered Le, D.T., Nguyen, T.T., Nishikawa, K., Nguyen, S.L.H., Pham, auxiliary indicators of amphibian decline (Henle et A.V., Matsui, M., et al. (2015): A new species of Tylototriton Anderson, 1871 (Amphibia: Salamandridae) from Northern al., 2012; Romano et al., 2017). Moreover, according Indochina. Current Herpetology 34: 38–50. to Lynn (1950) bifurcated tail is usually explained as Lynn, W.G. (1950): A case of duplication of the tail in Plethodon. hyper-regeneration after mechanical injury caused by Herpetologica 63: 81–84. predators such as tail pinching or partial amputation.. Nishikawa, K., Khonsue, W., Pomchote, P., Matsui, M. (2013): Two new species of Tylototriton from Thailand (amphibia: Urodela: Acknowledgements. Our particular thanks to Krittanan Salamandridae). Zootaxa 3737: 261–279. Khemaprasit, Wichase Khonsue, Thansuda Dowwiangkan, Phimmachak, S., Aowphol, A., Stuart, B.L. (2015): Morphological Daniel Escoriza, Jean Raffaëlli, Mian Hou and Marta Bernardes. and molecular variation in Tylototriton (Caudata: Salamandridae) We also thank the Animal Care and Use Committee of the Faculty in Laos, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 4006: 285– of Science, Chulalongkorn University, the National Park, Wildlife 310. and Plant Conservation Department of Thailand (DNP), the Pomchote, P., Pariyanonth, P., Khonsue, W. (2008): Two Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), the distinctive color patterns of Himalayan newt (Tylototriton Royal Forest Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and the verrucosus; Urodela; Salamandridae) in Thailand and its Chulalongkorn University for support our study. This research implication on geographic segregation. The Natural History was supported by the Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund Journal of Chulalongkorn University 8: 35–43. Part of the “Research Grant for New Scholar CU Researcher’s Pomchote, P., Khonsue, W., Sapewisut, P., Eto, K., Nishikawa, K. Project” (RGN_2559_061_19_23 to Porrawee Pomchote). (2020a): Discovering a population of Tylototriton verrucosus (Caudata: Salamandridae) from Thailand: implications References for conservation. Tropical Natural History 20: 1–15. Pomchote, P., Khonsue, W., Thammachoti, P., Hernandez, Dowwiangkan, T., Ponpituk, Y., Chuaynkern, C., Chuaykern, A., Peerachidacho, P., Suwannapoom, C., et al. (2020b): A Y., Duengkae, P. (2018): Population and habitat selection of new species of Tylototriton (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Tylototriton uyenoi in Maesa-Kogma Biosphere Reserve, Chiang Nan Province, Northern Thailand. Tropical Natural History Mai Province, northern Thailand. Alytes 36: 300–313. 20: 144–161. 996 Axel Hernandez & Porrawee Pomchote

Raffaëlli, J. (2013): Les Urodèles du Monde. Second Edition. Bretagne, France. Penclen Editions. Romano, A., Avella, I., Roger, D.S. (2017): Body malformations in a forest-dwelling salamander, Salamandrina perspicillata (Savi, 1821). Herpetological Conservation and Biology 12: 16–23.

Accepted by Yunke Wu