Huanren Frog

Rana huanrensis adult males measure up to 53.4 mm and adult females up to 58.8 mm SVL. Males have longer limbs, more developed forelimbs, and lack internal vocal sacs (Yang et al. 2000). It is morphologically similar to R. dybowskii (http://www.amphibiaweb.org/cgi-bin/amphib_query?query_src=aw_search_index&where-genus=Rana&where-species=dybowskii&rel-genus=equals&rel-species=equals); however, R. huanrensis can be distinguished by ventral coloration (see below) and absence of vocal sacs in males (present and paired in R. dybowskii (Kim et al. 2002). Male members of R. huanrensis also have a smaller SVL, relatively long lower arms, and shorter tibias, femurs, and feet compared to males of R. dybowskii (Yang et al. 2000). Dorsal coloration is greyish, brown, brown-olive, or olive for Rana huanrensis . Dark spots may or may not be present (Kuzmin 1999). The male ventral color pattern is yellowish-gray, with tiny black dots covering the throat and chest. Females also have the tiny black dots covering the throat and chest, and during breeding season, the female ventral color is yellowish-green (Kim et al. 2002). In contrast, the sympatric species R. dybowskii can be distinguished by a milky white venter in males and red throat and chest patches in females (Kim et al. 2002).This frog is sympatric with Rana dybowskii. Both frogs belong to the brown frog group. Rana huanrensis is morphologically and karyologically similar to R. dybowskii, and was originally misidentified in South Korea due to this similarity. However, R. huanrensis can be visibly distinguished by its ventral coloration patterns and lack of vocal sacs (Kim et al. 2002). Those literate in Chinese can find more information at the Sichuan Journal of Zoology (http://scholar.ilib.cn/P-scdw.html). Those literate in Korean can find more information at DAPTF (http://academic.reed.edu/biology/korea_daptf/daptf/amphibian2.html).

China: Huanren County, Liaoning Province (near NW North Korean border) Republic of Korea: Rana huanrensis lives in valleys in high montane regions, above 500 m in elevation (Yang et al. 2000).

The breeding season for Rana huanrensis is late spring to early summer. (Liu et al. 2004). Unlike most East Asian brown frogs that breed in still water, R. huanrensis breeds in slow-moving montane streams and rivers (Yang et al. 2000). Eggs are laid in moderately small masses that are attached to submerged rocks. The diameter of an egg mass is approximately 10 cm (Yang et al. 2000).

This species has a relatively wide range of distribution. It is unlikely to be declining, although it may suffer from mass collection for Chinese medicine. Due to the low number of confirmed populations for this species, it could qualify as Vulnerable under IUCN Red List criterion B1ab(iii), but is listed as Least Concern based on the assumption of widespread occurrence, especially in the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea (North Korea) (IUCN 2006).

The Huanren frog is used for food and traditional Chinese medicine (IUCN 2006).

The Huanren frog (Rana huanrensis) is a species of true frog found in East Asia. It was originally believed to be endemic to Huanren County, Liaoning, China, but was later also found in South Korea; it is presumed to be present in North Korea, as well. It is closely related to the Dybowski's frog, Rana dybowskii, and specimens collected before 1991 were incorrectly identified as that species. Distinguishing factors include the absence of a vocal sac.

The Huanren frog is found in and around rivers and streams in hilly terrain. The type locality in Huanren is 520 m (1,710 ft) above sea level, and specimens from Korea have also only been found at altitudes over 500 m (1,600 ft). Specimens from South Korea have been collected in the provinces of Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and eastern Gyeonggi-do. Egg clutches, which are small and clustered, are deposited on submerged rocks in the streams which this species favors.