The only known specimen of Kemp’s bush frog (Philautus kempii) was collected by Indian Museum Superintendent Stanly Kemp, during a four-month expedition to the Abor of Northeast India in 1911-12.Belgian/British naturalist and director of the Indian Museum Nelson Annandale described Kemp’s specimen as Megalophrys kempii with type locality of Upper Rotung valley, at 2000 ft in altitude (Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India).The frog is also known as Kemp’s small treefrog, Kemp’s spadefoot frog, and Kemp’s horned toad (Frost 2014; Annandale 2012).
Annandale described this terrestrial tree frog specimen as small (though he noted that it was full-grown), smooth-skinned and dark olive in color with grey-green markings on the dorsal side, olive green banding on the legs, tubercules on the base of the thighs, and an olive-yellow ventral and throat color with clear yellow spots on the throat. The specimen’s snout-vent length measured 15mm (0.6 inches).Annandale also reported no vomerine teeth, slender limbs, and small but distinct pads on fingers and toes, with toes (not fingers) slightly webbed (Annandale 2012)
After reviewing the type specimen (held in the Indian Museum as ZSIC 17013), Delorme et al. (2006) argue that while smooth skin is a character of the family Megalophoridae, the granular ventral skin of this specimen is “treefrog belly skin.” Furthermore, the discrete finger and toe pads of this species clearly indicate that it does not belong in this family.Instead, Delorme et al. recognize Kemp’s bush frog as a species in genus Philautus, in subfamily Rhacophorinae.
As this species is known only from one specimen there is some question as to its taxonomic validity and its range and population size is unknown (Dutta et al. 2008).Fei (1999) reports a second specimen from 2,500m in altitude in Motuo County, South-eastern Xizang Autonomous Region, China, but this has not been fully confirmed as the same species (see Frost 2014).
Philautus kempii (not to be confused with Philautus kempiae) is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae.[3] It is known with certainty from its type locality,[1] Upper Rotung in Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India, in the area also claimed by China.[3] It is also reported from Arunachal Pradesh in general as well as from extreme eastern Tibet;[3] these might represent another species. Very little is known about this species, and even its taxonomic validity remains uncertain.[1]
The specific name kempii honours Stanley Wells Kemp, an English zoologist and anthropologist.[4] Common names Kemp's spadefoot toad, Kemp's horned toad, Kemp's bush frog, and Kemp's small treefrog have been coined for it (only the latter two accord with the current placement of this species in Rhacophoridae).[3]
Philautus kempii was originally described by Nelson Annandale as Megalophrys (=Megophrys) kempii, in a genus that is now in the family Megophryidae. Later authors placed the taxon in various megophryid genera. However, in 2006 Delorme and colleagues noted that the holotype has granular belly and distinct finger and toe discs, characteristics that are not present in Megophryidae. Instead, they concluded that Annandale's Megalophrys kempii is a rhacophorid, likely in the genus Philautus.[5] It has also been placed in other rhacophorid genera.[3]
The holotype measures 15 mm (0.6 in) in snout–vent length and is at least a sub-adult. The snout is relatively long and sloping forwards, round, and truncate in profile. The tympanum is distinct. The limbs are slender. The fingers and toes bear small but distinct discs. The toes have basal webbing. Skin is smooth except for the belly. The dorsum (in preservative) is dark olive and has symmetrically arranged greyish-green marks. The snout is also greyish-green. The hind limbs have obscure cross-bands. The ventral surfaces are yellowish.[2]
Presumably, this species inhabits tropical moist forest, but nothing definite is known regarding its habitats and biology. Threats and its presence in protected areas are unknown.[1]
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Philautus kempii (not to be confused with Philautus kempiae) is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is known with certainty from its type locality, Upper Rotung in Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India, in the area also claimed by China. It is also reported from Arunachal Pradesh in general as well as from extreme eastern Tibet; these might represent another species. Very little is known about this species, and even its taxonomic validity remains uncertain.
