frog fascination-Malaysia

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March 4th 2003 - The Star

 

Frog fascination

 

 

FROGS and toads are not simple or stupid creatures. In fact these

much-maligned animals are escape artists, masters of deception, habitat

specialists and most are savvy enough to stay away from humans. While walking in

the jungle you are bound to hear the loud choruses of the many fascinating frogs

that scuttle in the leaf litter, cling to tree branches or wallow in small

pools.

Frogs and toads are amphibians. This word is derived from Greek, and means

" twin lives. " It refers to the fact that most frogs and toads usually spend the

early part of their lives in water and the later adult stage on land. In

non-tropical countries, differences between frogs and toads are seen in skin

roughness and hind leg length but in Malaysia these characteristics are not

distinct enough.

Frog families

Malaysia teems with frogs and toads. There are over 165 species thriving in

forests and wetlands, many of which are unique to a particular habitat.

The easiest way to learn about frogs is to start by learning about their

families.

The Toads (Bufonidae) - These are the warty-skinned frogs or the " true toads " ,

usually short and squat. They are easily recognised by a pair of large glands

behind the eye in many species.

Their eggs are laid out in a string and protected with a gelatinous cover.

Their skin glands secrete a poison that is bitter, foul-tasting and irritating

to the mouth to ward off predators.

The Leaf-litter Frogs (Megophryidae) - These burrowing frogs are usually found

on the ground, where they disguise themselves in the fallen debris of the

forest. Their colouring is cryptic and some species have ridges on their backs

that mimic leaf veins. They are neither toads nor true frogs.

The Narrow-mouthed Frogs (Microhylidae) - A family that includes the tiniest

frogs in Malaysia, these species are usually quite small, rotund and

short-limbed with small heads and pointed snouts. Small they may be but they are

among the noisiest frogs at night with bellowing and rumbling calls.

The " True " frogs (Ranidae) - These normally smooth-skinned species are what

most imagine when they think of frogs. They are a very diverse group made up of

either moderate-sized, semi-aquatic frogs or stout, warty burrowers, most with

webbed feet and pointed snouts.

The Tree frogs (Rhacophoridae) - A very diverse group with long limbs, big

eyes and enlarged sticky toe pads that aid these agile frogs in climbing and

leaping. Some can even glide. In fact, Malaysia is famous for having a few

species of " flying " frogs. With extensive toe webbing splayed out, these flyers

actually parachute jump from tree to tree.

Frogging in the wild

" Frogging " is the pastime of frog-watchers. Malaysia is full of great places

to begin your frog and toad adventures. It is best to go frogging at night when

it's cool and quiet. Of course, a torchlight is necessary and a headlamp is even

better for spotting species among the leafy vegetation and slippery streams.

Don't forget to keep your ears open as well as your eyes!

Many of the night forest sounds that you hear are actually frog calls, though

many mistake them for the sounds of insects, birds, cats or even cows. A

rattling sound coming from the ground could be the tiny Heymon's narrow-mouthed

frog (Microhyla heymonsi), so small that it can hide under a blade of grass.

Hear a loud " ruff-ruff-ruff " ? The three-striped frog (Rana miopus), marked by

three diagonal stripes down its back, is responsible for that barking call.

During a rain shower, you can hear loud ox-like bellows filling the night air -

this is the banded ox-frog (Kaloula pulchra), a fat, bloated frog that calls

from the middle of the water. In contrast, the graceful white-lipped tree frog

(Polypedates leucomystax) utters a wet, quacking sound.

The multitude of frog and toad species in Malaysia allows one to discover and

witness some extraordinary natural sights. Despite the small scale,

opportunities exist to watch some of the most wonderful phenomena on the planet.

Take for example, the Wallace's flying frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus).

During breeding season, throngs of these huge, vivid green frogs with inky black

and blazing yellow " parachutes " between their fingers are found clustered around

a tiny pool, building their sticky nests.

The mating of Blyth's giant frogs (Limonectes blythii), on the other hand, is

a sombre ceremony. The courtship ritual begins with the male excavating a sandy

basin surrounded by water. While sitting in the basin, the male calls out and

waits for the female to respond. On arrival the female enlarges the basin

perimeter before swimming around it with the male a few times before eggs and

sperm are properly placed inside.

These rare glimpses of our natural world are the rewards for muddy clothes,

wet feet and long hours trekking at night. It is a journey into the insights of

another world that exists beside ours and indeed, one that has fallen victim to

habitat destruction and water pollution. But there still remains a diverse range

of biological wonders and amazing behaviour to observe, even in the small wild

places of the large Malaysian landscape.

Jeet Sukumaran is currently pursuing a Masters degree in ecology at Universiti

Malaya. Visit http://www.frogweb.org/ and www.wild malaysia.net for more

photographs and information on frogs, toads and other wild things. The Selangor

branch of the Malaysian Nature Society goes frogging once a month at the Forest

Research Institute of Malaysia. E-mail nor%20sham_yaakob for

details.