Adult specimen found in the Panti Forest, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia.
Close-up of the 'ocellus' located in the groin area. This comprises a
central black spot on a patterned white background.
Family : MICROHYLIDAE
Species : Kalophrynus pleurostigma
Size (snout to vent) : Female 5.8 cm, Male 5.0 cm
References : H2, H3 |
This species inhabits the
leaf litter on the floor of primary rainforest. It is largely nocturnal, but
its call, a softly repeated 'whoop, whoop', may be heard on overcast
afternoons.
Its body is triangular in shape, its limbs are relatively slender, and a
distinct pale margin separates the dorsal surface from the flanks. Generally
there are small dark spots scattered on the brown dorsal surface, but these
may sometimes be absent. Instead there may be symmetrical patterns of light
and dark brown skin in some populations, and other populations may be plain
orange. A sticky substance is exuded by the skin, probably to deter
predators.
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Ground pitchers of the
Flask-shaped Pitcher Plant Nepenthes ampullaria. In Singapore
tadpoles of the Black-spotted Sticky Frog have been found inside these
small water-filled structures.
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The key identifier for
this species is the presence of 'ocelli' or eyes in the groin area : these
comprise a central dark spot surrounded by a white or patterned patch.
Its diet comprises mainly insects. Tadpoles of the species may be found in
the smallest accumulations of water, for example in water trapped in fallen
logs, or even in pitcher plants (where the tadpoles are presumably immune to
the digestive effects of the plant's enzymes).
The Black-spotted Sticky Frog ranges from southern China, Burma and Thailand
through Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to Sumatra, Java, Borneo and
parts of the Philippines. |
