Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
Fig 4
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Family : RANIDAE
Species : Pulchrana sundabarat
Size (snout to vent) :
Males to 4.0 cm, females larger
Play call
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Pulchrana sundabarat
(Western Sunda Spotted Stream Frog) mainly inhabits lowland forest streams,
but has also been found in hill forest streams to ~850 metres elevation in
southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra.
It is typically encountered perching low down on streamside vegetation, such
as leaves and twigs, and smooth boulders.
The species was first described in 2020 (Chan et al); its distribution and
ecology was summarised in the same publication. It is closely related to
Pulchrana picturata (Spotted Stream Frog) from Borneo, which is somewhat
larger.
This relatively small frog can be identified by its bright orange or
reddish-orange, discontinuous dorsolateral stripe, which extends to the tip
of the snout, and by the orange or yellowish markings on the top and sides
of its body. Its background colour is dark brown above and pale to white
below.
This species is like a 'typical frog' in shape, with long legs, large eyes,
a pointed snout and lack of webbing between the toes on the front feet.
Males are somewhat smaller than females.
Its call is quite distinctive, and can be described as a quiet rattle which
is sometimes hard to discern above the noise of a fast-flowing stream.
Fig 1 : Typical specimen with bold, orange dorsolateral stripes and abundant
orange spots, perching on a streamside boulder.
Figs 2 and 3 : Slender specimen with moderate
spotting on the dorsum, and bold banding on the hind legs, perched on a
streamside leaf.
Fig 4 : Weakly patterned example with markedly discontinuous dorsolateral
stripe, sparse markings on the dorsum and pale orange markings on the hind
legs.
All examples from fast flowing, rocky, lowland streams in Johor, Peninsular Malaysia.
References :
Chan, K. O., Abraham, R. K., Grismer, L. L. & Brown, R. M. (2020)
A systematic review of the Pulchrana picturata complex, with the
description of a new species from Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and southern
Thailand. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 68: 880–890.
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