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Polypedates leucomystax

Basic information
Scientific name Polypedates leucomystax

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シロアゴガエル
Major synonym
Common names white-lipped tree frog
Higher taxon Rhacophoridae, Anura, Amphibia
Natural range East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia.
Habitat Open area such as city area, shrub, etc., as well as natural forest.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Okinawa Islands, Kita-Daitojima Is., Miyako Islands, Ishigakijima Is. and Yoron Is, Iriomote Is (declared eradication in 2019). Range in Japan
Origin Possibly Philippines
Date The first record in Japan was in 1964 at Okinawajima Is. In Miyakojima Is., the first record was in 1997.
Route Deliberate: Escape of pet animal.
Accidental: Hitchhiking on transport by US military.
Impact Competition for food and oviposition site, intereference to reproduction of native frogs, carrying parasites, etc.
Native organism(s) affected: Native frogs, especially Rhacophorus viridis, which has similar ecology to P. leucomystax
Regulation in Japan Import, transport and keeping are prohibited in Japan by the Invasive Alien Species Act.
Introduced range in other countries Under Construction.
Reference Notes
  • Ecol Soc Jpn (ed) (2002) Handbook of Alien Species in Japan. Chijinshokan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Frost et al. (1998-2010) Amphibian Species of the World (Accessed on 2012-3-14) http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/.
  • JWRC (ed) (2008) A Photographic Guide to the Invasive Alien Species in Japan. Heibonsha, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Maeda & Matsui (1999) Frogs and Toads of Japan. Bun-ichi Sogo Shuppan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Maenosono & Toda (2007) Distribution of amphibians and terrestrial reptiles in the Ryukyu Archipelago: A review of published records. Akamata. 18, 28-46 (in Jpn)
  • Ota et al. (2004) Feral population of amphibians and reptiles in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Global Environmental Research. 8(2):133-143
  • Sengoku et al. (eds) (1996) The Encyclopedia of Animals in Japan 5 Amphibians, Reptiles, Chondrichthyes. Heibonsha, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Taba et al. (2013) Invasion of Polypedates leucomystax on Yoron Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. . Bulletin of the Herpetological Society of Japan. 2013(2), 96-97 (in Jpn)
  • etc.
 100 of the Japan’s Worst Invasive Alien Species