The Malesian Frog - big, beefy and Near Threatened
by Vanessa Ting
A rather large amphibian, the Malesian Frog, or the Peat Swamp Frog (Limnonectes malesianus) is from the Dicroglossidae family, also known as the fork-tongued frogs. The genus Limnonectes are also known as the fanged frogs because of their large teeth!
Found on the Thailand-Malaysia peninsula and in Singapore, Borneo and parts of Indonesia, the Malesian Frog prefers acidic streams (minimum pH 5) in tropical lowland forests, rivers and swamps.
The Malesian Frog can grow to 15 cm in length (females 10 cm), which makes it a big player in the international frog leg trade. Also because of decreasing habitats, this frog is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
This reddish-brown to chocolate-brown frog has a visible tympanum (external ear drum at each side of the head) . Notice the thin white line running between its eyes down its back, and its spiny tubercles around the eyes, and try to identify it the next time you go on a frogging session!
This photograph was taken in Rimba Ilmu by Daicus Belabut of ISB, UM. Daicus is a herpetologist extraordinaire, always game to lead Water Warriors' and RIMBA's frogging sessions and wow us with his unparralleled knowledge of amphibians! Contact us if you would like to organise or take part in one.
