The name of the genus honors Zhang Ya-Ping from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in recognition to his contributions to biodiversity and evolution research in China, in combination with ixalus, a common generic root for treefrogs.[1]
Taxonomy
Zhangixalus was erected in a 2019 revision of the then very large genus Rhacophorus (92 species) that was split in three lineages: Rhacophorus sensu stricto (then 39 species; as of November 2021, 43 species[4]), resurrected Leptomantis (then 14 species; as of November 2021, 13 species[4]), and Zhangixalus (then 37 species; as of November 2021, 40 species[4]). The split was based on molecular data, but was supported by morphological characteristics and differences in geographic distribution. Rhacophorus is the sister taxon to the clade formed by Zhangixalus and Leptomantis.[1]
Description
Zhangixalus are relatively large frogs, ranging between 30 and 120 mm (1.2 and 4.7 in) in snout–vent length, but typically more than 50 mm (2.0 in). The snout is rounded. The terminal phalanges of fingers and toes are Y-shaped. Dorsal skin is smooth or scattered with small tubercles. Most species have green dorsal coloration. Reproduction involves white foam nests produced by breeding pairs.[1]
Zhangixalus, as delimited by Jiang and colleagues, includes a deeply divergent clade containing Z. achantharrhena, Z. dulitensis, and Z. prominanus. They differ from other Zhangixalus by possessing dermal folds along limbs and tarsal projections. The placement of these species is tentative, pending further study.[1]
Zhangixalus are mostly larger than their closest relative, Leptomantis, and have generally green dorsal coloration, instead of light tan or reddish brown. They differ from Rhacophorus sensu stricto by lacking dermal folds along limbs and tarsal projections.[1]
^Tao Thien Nguyen, Huy Hoang Nguyen, Hoa Thi Ninh, Linh Tu Hoang Le, Hai Tuan Bui, Nikolai Orlov, Chung Van Hoang and Thomas Ziegler. 2024. Zhangixalus thaoae sp. nov., A New green treefrog Species from Vietnam (Anura, Rhacophoridae). ZooKeys. 1197: 93-113. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1197.104851
^Yuanqiang Pan, Mian Hou, Guohua Yu, Shuo Liu. 2024. A New Species of Zhangixalus (Anura, Rhacophoridae) from Yunnan, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 100(1): 183-197. DOI: 10.3897/zse.100.113850