Meristogenys whiteheadi inhabits rocky streams in lowland forests of Sabah and Sarawak. 

The males are relatively small, measuring 40–50 mm in snout-vent length. The head is fairly broad (HW/SVL usually more than 0.35).

The backside is light brown to greenish dark brown. The upper and lower lips are dark grey to black. The iris is bicoloured, whitish brown above and below, with a segment of reddish orange in between.

A small light circle is usually on the centre of the tympanum. The limbs are marked dorsally with alternating light- and dark-brown cross-bars. The rear of thigh is light brown with scattered light dots. The throat and chest are whitish, with dots of melanophores; abdomen whitish. The ventral surfaces of the legs are whitish, with patches of pigmentation of melanophores.

Photos courtesy of ©Tomohiko Shimada.