A new species of Leptolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from Laos

We describe a new species of megophryid frog in the genus Leptolalax from southern Laos. Leptolalax aereus sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of size (25.1-28.9 mm in 28 adult males, 27.1-38.6 mm in 12 adult females), absence of distinct black or dark brown dorsolateral markings on head, near immaculate white chest and belly, head length greater than head width, no webbing or lateral fringing on fingers, rudimentary webbing between toes I-IV and no webbing between toes IV-V, toes with weak lateral fringing, and a call consisting of an average of 3-4 notes containing 1-2 pulses, and with a dominant frequency of 6187.5-7875 Hz. The new species is associated with rocky streams in semi-evergreen and evergreen forest between 284-511 m elevation.