Rohanixalus Hansenae

Fascinating facts about the Rohanixalus Hansenae

• A 2020 DNA study ripped this tiny treefrog out of its old genus Feihyla and placed it in a brand-new one, Rohanixalus, showing how modern genetics can rewrite a frog's family tree.
• Even though it’s only known from Thailand, scientists suspect the frog’s true home stretches into Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, reminding us that political borders often hide wildlife’s real ranges.
• During the rainy season, females lay egg clutches on vertical rock faces or plant stems above water, then stand guard, sometimes even leaping onto hungry grasshoppers that wander too close, turning motherhood into a literal jump-start defense.
• If a sudden flood hits, the tadpoles can hatch early to escape drowning; otherwise, the un-hatched eggs simply drown, a split-second race against rising water that decides survival.

At a glance

About the Rohanixalus Hansenae

Rohanixalus hansenae, known as Hansen's Asian treefrog, Hansen's bushfrog, and the Chon Buri pigmy tree frog, is a species in the family Rhacophoridae that is endemic to Thailand, though its true range may extend into Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. It occurs in riparian vegetation around ponds in lowland forest up to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level. During the rainy season the female lays egg clutches on vertical surfaces of boulders and plants above water and guards them, sometimes leaping onto grasshoppers that threaten the eggs. Tadpoles can hatch early if flooding occurs, while eggs that do not hatch early may be lost in floods. The species is found in several protected areas such as Khao Kitchakut National Park and Sakaerat Environmental Research Station.

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