Raorchestes tytthus ( Smith, 1940 ), 2025

Boruah, Bitupan, Deepak, V. & Das, Abhijit, 2025, Revision of bush frogs, Raorchestes and Philautus (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the northeast Indian biodiversity hotspot with description of thirteen new species, Vertebrate Zoology 75, pp. 517-625 : 517-625

Raorchestes tytthus ( Smith, 1940) nov. comb.

Chresonymy.

Philautus tytthus Smith, 1940: 475 .

Philautus tytthus — Bossuyt and Dubois (2001): 52; Zug (2022): 42.

Comments on taxonomic status.

Philautus tytthus (Fig. 13 ) was described by Smith (1940) based on two specimens collected by R. Kaulback from Htingnan, Kachin, northern Myanmar. Since its description, this species has never been reported from the type locality and the phylogenetic status of the species remains unknown. We examined the type series ( BMNH 1947.2.5.92 –93) of this species at the Natural History Museum London ( NHM). Based on the following combination of morphological characters, and geographical distribution of Philautus sensu stricto, we propose that this species be considered as a member of the genus Raorchestes and no other rhacophorid genus based on the following characters: 1) SVL 20.9–21.2 mm, 2) absence of vomerine ridge or teeth, 3) absence of serrated dermal fringe along forearms and tarsus, 4) absence of light coloured dorsolateral stripes along the dorsum, and 5) absence of calcar. Thus, we transfer Philautus tytthus to Raorchestes tytthus nov. comb.

Figures

Figure 13. Raorchestes tytthus nov. comb. A Dorsal and B ventral view of holotype (BMNH 1947.2. 5.92); C dorsal view, D ventral view of paratype (BMNH 1947.2. 5.93). Scale bar = 10 mm.