Microhyla
borneenis
is a locally common species of the forest floor in
primary or secondary rainforest. Size up to 25 mm
snout-vent length in female, males smaller.
Whenever they can these frogs sit covered under leaf litter and will dart out with huge jumps when disturbed.
Males congregate around pools and form choruses. At dusk, a single male my start a chorus with a series of pleasantly "crackling" notes. More and more other males join the chorus and after a minute or so it ceases, only to start over again after a break of variable length.
Call recording by ©Sukumaran 2005
Whenever they can these frogs sit covered under leaf litter and will dart out with huge jumps when disturbed.
Males congregate around pools and form choruses. At dusk, a single male my start a chorus with a series of pleasantly "crackling" notes. More and more other males join the chorus and after a minute or so it ceases, only to start over again after a break of variable length.
Call recording by ©Sukumaran 2005
Microhyla
borneensis
reproduces in temporary stagnant pools of various
sizes and depths. Tadpoles are mid water column
suspension feeders. The mouth is terminal. They
lack keratinized mouthparts. The spiracle is
medially positioned on the belly. The coloration is
characteristic and includes among other features
(see image) a white spot and dark cross band at the
posterior third of the tail. The tail ends in a
sharp, thin flagellum.
If undisturbed tadpoles hover almost motionless in the water column, softly maneuvering by beats of the tail flagellum. At night, we saw them more frequently close to the water surface than during the day.
Tadpoles are fragile and reach a maximum total length of ca. 22 mm.
If undisturbed tadpoles hover almost motionless in the water column, softly maneuvering by beats of the tail flagellum. At night, we saw them more frequently close to the water surface than during the day.
Tadpoles are fragile and reach a maximum total length of ca. 22 mm.
