Vertebrate fauna of
 Southeast Asia

  

 

   
Home  
——————————  
SE Asia fauna ...  
   
Primates
 Carnivorans
 Large Mammals
 Small Mammals
 Mammal calls
 Bats
—————
Birds
—————
 Snakes
 Lizards & Crocodilians
 Turtles
—————
 Amphibians
 Tadpoles
 Frog calls
—————
Freshwater Fishes
 Marine & Brackish Fishes
—————
Species Lists
 





 


 
——————————  
New Guinea herptiles ...  
Snakes   Lizards   Frogs  
——————————  
SE Asia Vert Records (SEAVR) archives ...  
  Indochina Records
  Indonesia & PNG Records
Philippines Records
 
——————————  
   
  New or updated pages ...
 
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
——————————  
 

Search this site ...

 
 


   

 
  ——————————  
 


Email :


Text and photos by Nick Baker, unless credited to others.
Copyright © Ecology Asia 2025

 
     
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

   
   
 
Mahogany Frog 
Abavorana luctuosa
   
   

Family : RANIDAE
Species : Abavorana luctuosa 
Size (snout to vent) :
Female 6.0 cm,  Male 5.9 cm

The unmistakable Mahogany Frog inhabits lowland and lower montane forest, including disturbed habitats, up to 1350 metres elevation.

It is a leaf-litter dweller which is known to breed  in clear, forest streams. Given its widespread distribution and great altitudinal range, however, the species is likely to be quite adaptable in its selection of breeding sites.

It is easily identified by its unusual patterning which comprises a mid-brown dorsum which is separated from dark greyish-brown upper flanks by a narrow, pale stripe (= dorsolateral line). The lower flanks, belly and forelimbs are grey with pale spots, and the hindlimbs are greyish-brown with narrow, pale grey broken bars. There may be orange mottling on top of the limbs. Its skin is smooth, and its fingers and toes unwebbed.

The tadpoles are large and brownish, and are mottled or speckled with dark grey. The example shown here (Fig. 3) has extensive dark grey on the tail.

This frog occurs in southern Thailand (where it appears to restricted to the province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, near the Gulf of Thailand), Peninsular Malaysia (including the island of Pulau Pinang), Sumatra and Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan).



Fig 1 : Example from Fraser's Hill, Peninsular Malaysia found next to a stream near disturbed forest.

Fig 2 : Another example from Fraser's Hill, Peninsular Malaysia, found at an elevation of 990 metres. This specimen has some orange mottling on top of the forelimb.

Fig 3 : Tadpole, also from Fraser's Hill, Peninsular Malaysia, in a puddle near a fast-flowing stream in disturbed habitat.

All photos thanks to Law Ing Sind.


References :

Chan-ard, T. (2003). A photographic guide to amphibians in Thailand. Darnsutha Press Company. 175 pp.

Manthey U., Grossmann W., 1997. Amphibien und Reptilien Sudostasiens. Natur und Tier - Verlag.

Fig 1
 

 

Fig 2
 

©  Law Ing Sind

Fig 3
 

©  Law Ing Sind