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Fig 3
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Family : RHACOPHORIDAE
Species : Rhacophorus norhayatii
Size (snout to vent) :
Males up to 6.5 cm, females up to 8.3 cm.
Play call
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Norhayati's Flying Frog
inhabits primary and tall secondary, lowland and hill forest mainly in
Peninsular Malaysia. It has been recorded at a maximum elevation of 1500 metres, at Cameron Highlands.
Like other flying frogs, this species typically spends much of its time
hidden from view in the forest canopy. During rainy periods, however, when temporary pools are formed
on the forest floor, these frogs will descend to lower levels and congregate in
vegetation a few metres above the ground. At such times their distinctive call,
which sounds like two hollow sticks being knocked together, may be heard
late afternoon or after dusk.
This species was first described in 2010 (Chan & Grismer, 2010). Prior
to that time, it was considered part of the Reinwardt's Flying Frog Rhacophorus reinwardtii
species complex.
This beautiful frog is easily identifiable on the basis of its colours. The
dorsal surface of the body and limbs, and the upper portion of the flanks,
are bright green and lack spots or other markings. The lower
flanks are mottled orange and black, with small blue spots and lines. The
underside of the body and throat are white to pale grey, mottled with small
dark spots.
The hands and feet are all fully webbed, as is typical for the genus
Rhacophorus, and the webbing is blue and black. The eyes are large, with
pale grey iris, and immediately behind the eye the external eardrum is large
and round.
This species occurs widely in Peninsular Malaysia. In Thailand it occurs in
the extreme south, and in a small area of west-central Thailand near the
border with Myanmar.
Fig 1 : This specimen was heard calling around 7 pm from a sapling next
to a temporary pool in primary forest. It was perched around 2.5 metres
above the ground.
Fig 2 : A second specimen from the same area, in low vegetation around 5
metres from the same pool.
Fig 3 : Close-up of the same specimen as in Figure 1, which exhibits
typical colour and patterning for the species.
Images 1 to 3 from Gunung Pulai, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia at around 150
metres elevation.
Fig 4 : Pair in amplexus, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia.
Photo thanks to Law Ing Sind.
References :
Chan, K. O., Grismer, L. L. 2010. Re-assessment of the Reinwardt’s
Gliding Frog, Rhacophorus reinwardtii (Schlegel 1840) (Anura:
Rhacophoridae) in Southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia and its
re-description as a new species. Zootaxa 2505: 40–50
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