Tiny Frog

This was a tiny frog, less than 2 cm in size, with interesting dark brown colour on the body and light brown on all the 4 legs.

comments (7)

John Sullivan

Lion

I'm pretty sure this is Microhyla borneensis. There are some photos and good info at <http://frogsofborneo.org/microhylidae/255-microhylidae/microhyla/nepenthicola>. The species is already in the database. Posted 8 years ago
1. John Sullivan
  
  Lion
  
  One interesting thing about the frog in your photo is that it has small transparent spikes on its heels and elbows. I would have thought this was a useful diagnostic feature but I haven't found any mention of it on frogsofborneo.org. Maybe it's something that disappears as the frog ages. Posted 8 years ago
2. 1. Albert Kang
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks, John Sullivan for the ID. I had thought its a Microhyla - Narrow Mouthed Frog, but wasn't sure if its M.borneensis. I posted the pics of M.borneensis from Kubah where they are found in the Pitcher Plants. And those were smaller than this particular one I saw in Tawau.
    
    And yes, I also noticed the small transparent spikes on its heels and elbow which I find interesting. And since its a Microhyla, and the M.borneensis are less than 2 cm in size whereas this one is already 2 cm in size, then the possibility that they disappears as it ages may not hold true as this one is likely an adult female already. Your thoughts on this? Posted 8 years ago
  2. 1. John Sullivan
      
      Lion
      
      OK, I didn't realize that this one was significantly larger than the accepted size of M. borneensis. I am certain that it is a microhylid (family Microhylidae), though not necessarily in the genus Microhyla.
      
      I did some more searching for info on Borneo microhylids that have spines on their heels and elbows, and I did come up with one: Chaperina fusca. The spines seem quite significant to me, since all of the descriptions I've found of this particular species mention them, and in fact one English name for this species is "Spiny-heeled Froglet".
      
      The frogsofborneo.org page for this species is: http://frogsofborneo.org/microhylidae/327-microhylidae/chaperina/fusca
      
      The photos and description on that frogsofborneo.org page don't match the color of your frog, but the size and shape seem right (along with those spines). However, the photo on the Wikipedia page for this species has colors that are much closer to yours: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaperina_fusca
      
      There's also a photo that's very similar to yours in the middle of this page: http://www.runwildtv.com/adventures-2/into-the-bornean-jungle
      
      Another distinguishing feature of Chaperina fusca is the bright yellow belly with dark reticulations. I think I can see a hint of this yellow in your photo on the left side of the frog's belly, just above the middle of the long hind toe.
      
      So that's my new guess, and I'm even more confident about this than I was about M. borneensis. Of course, I could still be completely wrong! Posted 8 years ago, modified 8 years ago
    2. 1. Albert Kang
        
        Lion
        
        Wow! Thanks a lot, John for taking so much time to check for the ID.
        And you are most likely correct with the ID of Saffron Bellied Frog - Chaperina fusca.
        I am uploading another picture of it to show the yellow belly :D Posted 8 years ago
      2. Albert Kang
        
        Lion
        
        Here it is :
        
        Posted 8 years ago
        
        John Sullivan
        
        Lion
        
        There's that yellow belly! Posted 8 years ago

The Saffron Bellied Frog

''Chaperina fusca'' is a species of frog in the Microhylidae family. It is monotypic within the genus ''Chaperina''.

It is found on the Malay Peninsula , in Borneo and in the Philippines . It is abundant in Borneo but uncommon on the Malay Peninsula and patchily distributed in the Philippines.

Info 4 0

Similar species: Frogs

Species identified by Albert Kang