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Amolops bellulus, the Pianma torrent frog, was given its specific epithet, bellulus, in reference to its beautiful coloration (bellulus derives from Latin for beautiful).Slender in form, Pianma torrent frogs have a sandy beige back with green and brown mottling, and brown limbs with green spotting and black crossbars.Their throat and belly are yellowish, and their iris gold on top, brown below. Males reach 50.1 mm in snout vent length and females 63.6 mm (Liu et al. 2000).
The Pianma torrent frog was recently described (along with tadpoles) from specimens collected on a 1998 field survey to the western slope of Mt. Gaoligong, at Pianma Township, Yunnan, China, 1620 m above sea level (Liu et al. 2000). It has not been reported from any other location since.However, an expedition mounted by Mr. Ronald Kaulback in 1938 collected specimens at an altitude of 1540 m asl in Pangnamdim, upper Myanmar that, while originally identified as Amalops gerbillus (Smith 1940), are now recognized as A. bellulus (Datong et al. 2004; Lui and Whittaker 2008).This record expands the distribution of this species into Myanmar, where Smith (1940) recorded them as common at the time.Now listed as data deficient by the IUCN, no recent information is known about the extent or abundance of this species.Lui and Whittaker (2008) suggest that it may occur more widely than known by sampling, especially in the regions between the Pangnamdim and Yunnan Province collections.
Restricted to fast-moving mountain streams, the Pianma torrent frog has large discs on fingers and toes adapted for hanging on in rushing waters and waterfalls.Like other Amalops species, its tadpoles also have a large abdominal sucker for this purpose.Adults remain hiding underwater during the day, but can be found at night lying on rocks near the water.Adults appear to jump quickly back into the water when startled (Liu et al. 2000).
