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Anura: Megophryidae - Litter Frogs |
| Litter frogs currently compose 11 genera that have about 112 species. They have an Oriental distribution and range from Pakistan to China and southward into Indonesia and the Philippines. All have aquatic eggs with some being laid in temporary ponds; others are laid in stream environments; most have large eyes and large mouths. Their body form tends to be plump with short legs, but their are exceptions (see the Leptolalax below). Adults are mostly terrestrial or semifossorial. The largest species reach 125 mm, the smallest species have adults in the 14-16 mm range. For many years these frogs were considered to be part of the Pelobatidae. Molecular studies suggest they need to be placed in their own family, but they do appear to form the sister group to the Pelobatidae. |
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The slender litter frog, Leptolalax dringi Dubois, 1987
from the Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Island of Borneo). This species lives along streams. It is known only from the type locality in Sarawak, and occurs over much of Sabah.
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Abbott's Litter Frog, Leptobrachium abbotti Cochran, 1926. This is a large frog of the dipterocarp forest floor. It feeds on large arthropods. It is widespread in Borneo, this specimen is from the Danum Valley of Sabah, Malaysia.
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The Bornean Horned Frog, Megophrys nasuta (Schlegel, 1858), is a large forest floor frog with a widemouth that allows it to swallow large invertebrates, particularly snails. It spends its days under cover and becomes active at dusk. Both specimens photographed in the Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Island of Borneo).
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