About Buergeria choui Matsui & Tominaga, 2020
Description: In terms of body size, adult males of Buergeria choui measure 25–29 mm (1.0–1.1 in) in snout–vent length, while adult females measure 30–36 mm (1.2–1.4 in). The species has a truncate snout. The tympanum is conspicuous, and the supratympanic fold is clearly visible. The forelimbs are moderately sized. The fingers lack webbing, but their tips are expanded into small discs. The hindlimbs are slender and very long, and the toes have fleshy webbing. Dorsal skin is rough, with scattered tubercles and ridges. The species' body ground color is highly variable, ranging from yellowish brown and grayish brown to deep brown. A dark brown interorbital bar is present on the head, followed by a dark cruciform pattern on the back. The throat is creamy yellow, and the chest and abdomen are cream. The limbs have dark crossbars, and the iris is golden. Males have a single internal subgular vocal sac. Male advertisement calls are emitted in succession, and consist of various combinations of notes with different intervals. Calls range from very short calls that contain only one pulse, to short trills or whistles, to long trills; long trills last 1–2.3 seconds. Tadpoles at Gosner stages 35–36 have a total length of 26–31 mm (1.0–1.2 in), and about two thirds of this length is made up by a lanceolate tail.
Distribution: Buergeria choui is found on Iriomote and Ishigaki Islands in the Southern Ryukyus, as well as in northwestern Taiwan. Populations formerly classified as Buergeria japonica from other areas of Taiwan belong to an undescribed species, and true Buergeria japonica is currently considered endemic to the Central Ryukyus.
Habitat: Buergeria choui occurs widely across a range from coastal lowlands to mountain forests, and has been observed at elevations between 0 and 1800 meters above sea level. Breeding occurs between March and November; during this period, calling males can be heard near shallow pools, slowly flowing streams, and ditches. Tadpoles are aquatic and can tolerate high temperatures.
