Scientific Name: Rhacophorus moltrechti Boulenger,1908
Common Name: Moltrechti's green treefrog
Chinese name: 莫氏樹蛙

~~Introduction~~
Moltrechti’s green treefrog is endemic to Taiwan. Its distribution range is mountainous areas at 2500 meters and below. It inhabits forests, bamboo groves, orchards and wetlands. It is most often seen in ponds, ditches and swamps.
 

~~Morphological Characteristics~~
Adults: Moltrechti's green tree frog is a medium-sized frog. Males measure about 4-5cm and females 5-6cm. The snout is round and obtuse. The crest on the snout is indistinct. The head is shorter in length than in width. Tympanum and temporal fold are distinct. The irises around the pupils are usually red or yellow. The back is smooth without tubercles, light green or bluish green with some small white or yellow spots. The flanks are white or yellow, and covered with black spots of different sizes. Dorsolateral fold is absent.
In some individuals, the skin on the belly is covered with flattened warts. Coloring is yellowish white or white, with small round spots. The dorsal side of the forelimbs is green, while the ventral side is white with some black spots. Fingers are half webbed with disks on the tips. There are white skin flaps on the outside of forelimbs. The dorsal side of hindlimbs is green while the inside of thighs, groin, sides of shin and webs are all red and covered with round or oval spots of different sizes. The toes are fully webbed with well-developed disks on the toetips and distinct white skip flap on the outside.

Secondary sexual characteristics: The male has a single vocal sac under the chin, which is darker in color.
Tadpoles:
Color:  Body is dark brown or light gray; only the posterior section of the tail is dark in color.
Body shape: 9.6～18.9mm (stage 30～33); oviform
Snout: Obtuse and round
Mouth: Anteroventral near snout tip
Labial tooth row formula (LTRF): 5(2-5)/3(1)
Eyes: Dorso-lateral
Spiracles:  Lower lateral
Tail shape: Lanceolate or broad lanceolate; round at the tip

~~Taxonomic Studies~~

~~Ecology and Behavior~~
Moltrechti's green treefrog inhabits forests, bamboo groves, artificial ponds in orchards or tea plantations, ditches and places near ponds. Its breeding season varies, depending on its range. During the breeding season, males make low continuous sounds, often from covert hideouts in ditches, grass, depressions in the mud, or trees. After mating, females lay 300-400 eggs at one time near still water. The eggs are contained in white foamy frogspawns. If the temperature is appropriate, the eggs will hatch into tadpoles within about two weeks.
 

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