In Peninsular Malaysia, about 90 species (belonging to five families) of frogs and toads (anurans) have been recorded. Of these, the family Ranidae is represented by about 30 species (in six genera). Many members within this family have undergone multiple nomenclatural changes at either genus and/or species levels. With the examination and use of larval characters, it is hoped that the relationships between species groups, species, or even genera may be better ascertained. More research attention and efforts should be targeted at the species whose tadpole identities remain unknown, while those whose larvae have been assigned with uncertainty should be verified.

During the course of my dissertation, the diagnostic tadpoles of five ranid species were discovered. These include Limnonectes nitidus, Limnonectes tweediei, Limnonectes laticeps, Rana miopus and Rana laterimaculata. The tadpole of Limnonectes laticeps was particularly interesting, because it demonstrated an endotrophic nutritional mode. This atypical non-feeding mode is also accompanied by a drastic reduction of mouthparts. Its tadpole does not have any jaw sheaths, labial tooth rows, anterior and posterior labia. The simplified oral aperture is merely flanked by two papillae located anterior of the small aperture.

A new species of ranid was also described from the highlands, and named Rana banjarana Leong & B. L. Lim, 2003. The species name is from the Malay word ‘banjaran’, which means ‘mountain range’. It is presently regarded as an endemic of the peninsula, but is known to occur in South Thailand ( Hala Bala National Park). Its diagnostic tadpole was earlier mistakenly assigned to be that of a lowland species, Rana glandulosa.

Publications

Leong, T. M., B. Y. H. Lee & L. M. Chou, 1996. New Record of the Tree-frog, Theloderma horridum Boulenger (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Singapore. Raffles Bull. Zool. , 44 (2): 475-477.

Leong, T. M. & L. M. Chou, 1997. New Record of the Narrow-mouthed frog, Microhyla borneensis Parker (Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) from Singapore, with Taxonomic Notes and Larval Description. Raffles Bull. Zool. , 45 (1): 97-103.

Leong, T. M. & L. M. Chou, 1998. Larval Identity of the Montane Horned Frog, Megophrys longipes (Boulenger) (Amphibia: Anura: Megophryidae). Raffles Bull. Zool. , 46 (2): 471-475.

Leong, T. M. & L. M. Chou, 1999. Larval Diversity and Development in the Singapore Anura (Amphibia). Raffles Bull. Zool. , 47 (1): 81-137.

Leong, T. M. & L. M. Chou, 2000. Tadpole of the Celebes Toad Bufo celebensis Günther (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae) from Northeast Sulawesi. Raffles Bull. Zool. , 48 (2): 297-300.

Leong, T. M., 2001. A first female topotype of the montane agamid Pseudocalotes flavigula (Smith, 1924) from Peninsular Malaysia, with description of colouration in life. Hamadryad. 26 (2): 364-366.

Leong, T. M., 2001. Defensive behaviour in the montane horned frog Megophrys longipes (Boulenger). Hamadryad. 26 (2): 367-369.

Leong, T. M., 2002. Status of Larval Identities among the Peninsular Malaysian Anura. Herpetological Review. 33 (3): 171-174.

Leong, T. M. & N. Yaakob, 2002. Tadpole of the Peninsular Malaysian ranid Limnonectes tweediei (Smith, 1935). Hamadryad, 27 (1): 78-82.

Lim, K. K. P., T. M. Leong & B. L. Lim, 2002. Herpetofaunal records from Cameron Highlands, Peninsular Malaysia. Journal of Wildlife & Parks, 20: 49-57.

B. L. Lim, T. M. Leong & K. S. Oh, 2002. Some rare and interesting snake species from Genting Highlands, Pahang. Journal of Wildlife & Parks, 20: 67-74.

Leong, T. M. & B. L. Lim, 2003. A new species of Rana (Amphibia: Anura: Ranidae) from the highlands of the Malay Peninsula. Raffles Bull. Zool. , 51 (1): 115-122.

Leong, T. M. & K. K. P. Lim, 2003. Herpetofaunal records from Fraser’s Hill, Peninsular Malaysia, with larval descriptions of Limnonectes nitidus and Theloderma asperum (Amphibia: Ranidae and Rhacophoridae). Raffles Bull. Zool. , 51 (1): 123-136.

Leong, T. M., M. Matsui, H. S. Yong & A. A. Hamid, 2003. Revalidation of Rana laterimaculata Barbour et Noble, 1916 from synonymy of Rana baramica Boettger, 1901. Current Herpetology, 22 (1): 17-27.

Leong, T. M., L. L. Grismer & Mumpuni, 2003. Preliminary checklists of the herpetofauna of the Anambas and Natuna islands ( South China Sea). Hamadryad, 27 (2): 165-175.

Leong, T. M. & C. F. Lim, 2003. The tadpole of Rana miopus Boulenger, 1918 from Peninsular Malaysia. Hamadryad, 27 (2): 175-178.

Leong, T. M., T. Chan-ard & Y. Chuaynkern, 2003. Additional anuran and saurian records for Phuket, south Thailand. The Natural History Journal of Chulalongkorn University, 3 (1): 17-21.

Leong, T. M. & B. L. Lim, 2003. Noteworthy prey item records of two snakes (Chrysopelea ornata and Macropisthodon flaviceps) from Peninsular Malaysia. Hamadryad, 27 (2): 266-268.

Leong, T. M. & G. H. S. Lim, 2003. Noteworthy dietary records for Caudacaecilia larutensis and Limnonectes kuhlii from Maxwell’s Hill, Peninsular Malaysia (Amphibia: Gymnophiona and Anura). Hamadryad, 27 (2): 268-270.

Grismer, J. L., T. M. Leong & N. S. Yaakob, 2003. Two new Southeast Asian skinks of the genus Larutia and intrageneric phylogenetic relationships. Herpetologica, 59 (4): 552-564.

Grismer, L. L., I. Das & T. M. Leong, 2003. A new species of Gongylosoma (Squamata: Colubridae) from Pulau Tioman, West Malaysia. Herpetologica, 59 (4): 565-572.

Diaz, R. E., T. M. Leong, L. L. Grismer & N. S. Yaakob, 2004. A new species of Dibamus (Squamata: Dibamidae) from West Malaysia. Asiatic Herpetological Research. 10: 1-7.

Leong, T. M. & L. L. Grismer, 2004. A new species of kukri snake, Oligodon (Colubridae) from Pulau Tioman, West Malaysia. Asiatic Herpetological Research. 10: 12-16.

Grismer, J. L., L. L. Grismer, I. Das, N. S. Yaakob, B. L. Lim, T. M. Leong, T. Youmans & H. Kaiser, 2004. Species diversity and checklist of the herpetofauna of Pulau Tioman, Peninsular Malaysia, with a preliminary overview of habitat utilization. Asiatic Herpetological Research. 10: 247-279.

Leong, T. M. & B. L. Lim, 2004. Rana siberu Dring, McCarthy & Whitten, 1990 – a first record for Peninsular Malaysia (Amphibia: Anura: Ranidae). Raffles Bull. Zool., 52 (1): 261-263.

Leong, T. M., 2004. Larval descriptions of some poorly known tadpoles from Peninsular Malaysia (Amphibia: Anura). Raffles Bull. Zool., 52 (2): 609-620.

Das, I. & T. M. Leong, 2004. A new species of Cnemaspis (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from southern Thailand. Current Herpetology, 23(2): 63-71.