FROGS OF SINGAPORE

Singapore may not be a hotbed of amphibian biodiversity, but 26 species of frogs from five families is a nice selection for the beginner to observe and identify. Hopefully as this page grows, it will assist Singaporeans to identify the various frogs that they share the island with.


CLASS AMPHIBIA - Amphibians

Order Gymnophiona - Caecilians
Family Ichthyophiidae
Ichthyophis sp.

Order Anura - Frogs and Toads
Family Pelobatidae (now Megophryidae) - Spadefoots, Archaic Frogs
- Malayan Horned Toad (Megophrys nasuta)Uncommon forest species
- Black-eyed Litter Frog (Leptobrachium nigrops)Common forest species

Family Bufonidae - 'true' Toads
- Asiatic Toad (Bufo melanostictus)Common commensual
X Four-ridged Toad (Bufo quadriporcatus)Uncommon forest species
X Saint Andrew's Cross Toadlet (Pelophryne brevipes)Rare primary forest species

Family Ranidae
- Malayan Giant Frog(Limnonectes blythii)Common forest species
- Crab-eating Frog or Mangrove Frog (Limnonectes cancrivorus)Common commensual
- Field Frog (Limnonectes limnocharis)Common commensual
- Malesian Frog (Limnonectes malesiana)Uncommon forest species
X Masked Swamp Frog (Limnonectes paramacrodon)Uncommon swamp forest species
- Rhinoceros Frog (Limnonectes plicatellus, formerly Rana plicatella)Uncommon forest species
- Yellow-bellied Puddle Frog (Phrynoglossus laevis, formerly Occidozyga laevis)Common forest species
X Masked Rough-sided Frog (Rana baramica)Uncommon forest species
- Copper-cheeked Frog (Rana chalconota)Common forest species
- Common Greenback (Rana erythraea)Common commensual
- Rough-sided Frog (Rana glandulosa)

Family Rhacophoridae - Asian Tree Frogs
X Blue-legged Tree Frog (Rhacophorus bimaculatus)
- Spotted Tree Frog (Nyctixalus pictus)Uncommon primary forest species
- Four-lined Tree Frog or Common Tree Frog (Polypedates leucomystax)Common commensual
X Thorny Tree Frog (Theloderma horridum)Uncommon forest species

Family Microhylidae
- Banded Bullfrog (Kaloula pulchra)Common commensual
- Black-spotted Sticky Frog (Kalophrynus pleurostigma)Uncommon primary forest species
X Bornean Chorus Frog (Microhyla borneensis)
- Painted Chorus Frog (Microhyla butleri)Common commensual
- Dark-sided Chorus Frog (Microhyla heymonsi)Common commensual
An "X" indicates no photograph available as yet.

List of Families in Order Anura with no representatives in Singapore:
Arthroleptidae
Ascaphidae (Tailed Frogs)
Atelopodidae (Bufonidae)
Brachycephalidae (Shield Toads)
Centrolenidae (Glass Frogs, Leaf Frogs)
Dendrobatidae (Poison & Dart-poison Frogs)
Discoglossidae (Fire-bellied Toads)
Gobiatidae +
Heleophrynidae (Ghost Frogs)
Hemisidae
Hylidae (Treefrogs)
Hyperoliidae (African Reed Frogs)
Leiopelmatidae (Ribbed Frogs)
Leptodactylidae
Myobatrachidae (Australian Frogs)
Notobatrachidae +
Palaeobatrachidae +
Pelodytidae (European Spadefoot Toads)
Phrynomeridae (Microhylidae)
Pipidae (Tongueless Frogs)
Prosaliridae +
Pseudidae (Paradox Frogs)
Rhinodermatidae (Darwin's Frogs)
Rhinophrynidae (Burrowing Toads)
Sooglossidae (Seychelle Frogs)
Tregobatrachidae +


General Bibliography

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Lim, Kelvin K. P. and Francis L. K. Lim
1992 A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore.
Singapore: Singapore Science Centre.

Teo, R C H and S Rajathurai
1997 'Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians in the Nature Reserves of Singapore - Diversity, Abundance and Distribution' IN The Gardens' Bulletin Singapore, 49(1997) 353-425.


Standard format of records:
Scientific name, English name, Chinese name, Malay name, Description, Call, Behaviour, Diagnostic, Habitat, Range, Status. 1