This small treehole, about one metre above the forest floor, is occupied
by a single Bornean Treehole Frog.
Close-up of the occupant, who was calling loudly by night.
Photo taken at Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo. |
The Bornean Treehole Frog
occurs in lowland primary or secondary rainforest up to an elevation of
around 700 metres. It is smaller in size than its cousin the
Malayan Treehole Frog
Metaphrynella pollicaris:
the female of the species measures just 2.5 cm snout-to-vent and the male is
slightly smaller.
In similar fashion to the Malayan Treehole Frog, the males of this species
select a suitable treehole from which they call persistently in an attempt
to attract a female inside for mating. They vary the pitch of their call to
match the resonance of their chosen treehole or other hollow.
This frog is typically mottled brown in colour, and its skin is warty in
texture. Its head is small, its snout short and blunt, and its eyes of
medium size. Great variation in colouration is reported, however.
The photos at left illustrate a typical treehole, with a resident male.
This species occurs only on the island of Borneo.
Family : MICROHYLIDAE
Species : Metaphrynella sundana
Size (snout to vent) : Female 2.5 cm, Male 2.3 cm
References : H3, H4
Links :
Tree-hole frogs exploit resonance effects
|
