Re-description, diet, and trophic niche overlap of three syntopic anuran species (Amphibia, Anura) in the Kim Bang Proposed Species and Habitat Conservation Area, Vietnam.

As a result of our field surveys in April and July 2025 in the Kim Bang Proposed Species and Habitat Conservation Area, we provide an extended morphological description of three syntopic anuran species, namely Microhyla heymonsi, M. mukhlesuri, and Occidozyga lingnanica based on newly collected specimens. In addition, we present data on the diet and trophic niche overlap of these syntopic anuran species. Using the stomach-flushing method, we analyzed stomach contents of 26 individuals of M. heymonsi, 42 individuals of M. mukhlesuri, and 48 individuals of O. lingnanica. We found 878 prey items, belonging to five insect orders (Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Thysanoptera) and Araneae in the diet of Microhyla mukhlesuri; 501 prey items, belonging to three insect orders (Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera) in M. heymonsi; and 280 prey items, belonging to eight insect orders (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Thysanoptera), Decapoda, Isopoda, Gastropoda, Araneae, and Gobiiformes in Occidozyga lingnanica. The highest frequency of occurrence (%F) of prey items identified in O. lingnanica was Coleoptera (48.25%), whereas the highest frequency of occurrence of prey items identified in M. heymonsi and M. mukhlesuri was Isoptera (55.81% and 40.91%, respectively). The trophic niche breadth was highest in O. lingnanica (Bsta = 0.33), followed by M. mukhlesuri (Bsta = 0.06), and the lowest values of niche breadth was recorded for M. heymonsi (Bsta = 0.02). The overlap of trophic niche (Ojk ) was 97% between M. mukhlesuri and M. heymonsi, 49% between M. heymonsi and O. lingnanica, and 47% between O. lingnanica and M. mukhlesuri.