Borneo eared frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Borneo eared frog |
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Rhacophorus otilophus Boulenger, 1893 |
The Polypedates otilophus is a special kind of frog known by a few cool names. People call it the file-eared tree frog, the Borneo eared frog, or even the bony-headed flying frog. It belongs to the Rhacophoridae family, which includes many tree frogs.
This frog lives only on the island of Borneo. You can find it across Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It usually lives in lower areas, but sometimes it can be found as high as 1,100 meters (about 3,600 feet) above sea level. The frog gets its "eared" name from the sharp ridges behind its eyes, right above its ears.
How Scientists Study This Frog
Scientists often study and classify animals. Sometimes, they learn new things and update how they group species. For example, another frog called Polypedates pseudotilophus from Sumatra and Java was once thought to be the same as the Borneo eared frog. But in 2014, scientists realized they were different species.
What Does the Borneo Eared Frog Look Like?
These frogs are quite robust, meaning they have a strong, sturdy body. Male Borneo eared frogs can grow up to 80 millimeters (about 3.1 inches) long. Females are a bit bigger, reaching up to 100 millimeters (about 3.9 inches) from snout to vent.
Their skin is a bright lemon yellow on top. It has many thin, black stripes, which makes them look quite striking. Their thighs also have several black bars. The frog's "ear," called the tympanum, is easy to see. It has a jagged, bony crest right above it, which gives the frog its "eared" appearance.
Their fingertips are wide and flat, like large discs, which help them grip surfaces. The discs on their toes are smaller. Their fingers have very little webbing between them. However, their toes have a moderate amount of webbing, which helps them move around.
Baby Borneo eared frogs, called tadpoles, are yellowish-green on top and white underneath. They start to get the same black stripes as the adults long before they change into frogs. The largest tadpoles can be about 60 millimeters (about 2.4 inches) long in total.
Where Do These Frogs Live?
The Borneo eared frog usually lives in areas that have been changed by humans, like secondary forests. You can also find them at the edges of untouched forests and even in villages. They are easiest to spot near ponds or other water bodies where they breed. Adult frogs often sit on plants or trees about 1 to 4 meters (3 to 13 feet) above the ground.
Good news for these frogs! The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) does not consider the Borneo eared frog to be a threatened species. This means their populations are currently stable and not at risk of disappearing.
