Vampire Flying Frog

Scientific name: Rhacophorus vampyrus

Alternative name/s:
Vampire Tree Frog, Ê´ch cây ma cà rông (Vietnamese)

Author(s)

Dr Jodi Rowley
Updated

21/04/22
Read time

2 minutes

Rhacophorus Vampyrus Image: Jodie Rowley
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

IUCN Conservation Status

NOT EVALUATED (NE)
Classification

Genus

Rhacophorus

Species

vampyrus

Family

Rhacophoridae

Order

Anura

Class

Amphibia
Size Range

4-6 cm body length
Habitats

montane, tree hole, tropical, tall closed forest

Identification

Rhacophorus vampyrus is a medium-sized tree frog from southern Vietnam. The species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of: a pale tan to brick red dorsum; white throat, chest and belly; black flanks and anterior and posterior surface of thighs; grey to black webbing between fingers and toes; reduced finger webbing; and pointed projection at tibiotarsal articulation.

Habitat

The Vampire Flying frog occurs in montane evergreen forest. To date, it's known from dense forest between around 1500–2000 m elevation.

Distribution

So far, the species is only known from the Langbian Plateau, in southern Vietnam.

Communication

Although males almost certainly call to attract females to suitable tree-holes, their advertisement call has yet to be documented.

Breeding behaviours

Rhacophorus vampyrus is a phytotelm (tree-hole) breeder, depositing eggs in foam nests in small tree-holes. The species is named after its unusual, ‘fanged’ tadpoles.

Conservation status

Given the available information, we suggest the species should be considered Data Deficient following IUCN’s Red List categories.

References

Rowley, J. J. L., Le T. T. D., Tran T. A. D., Stuart, B. L., & Hoang D. H. (2010). A new tree frog of the genus Rhacophorus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from southern Vietnam. Zootaxa 2727: 45-55.