''Polypedates otilophus'' (also known as the file-eared tree frog, Borneo eared frog, or bony-headed flying frog) is a species of

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" ''Triadobatrachus'' is ...

in the family

Rhacophoridae The Rhacophoridae are a family of frogs that occur in tropical sub-Saharan Africa, South India and Sri Lanka, Japan, northeastern India to eastern China and Taiwan, south through the Philippines and Greater Sundas, and Sulawesi. They are co ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and ea ...

where it is widespread and found in

Brunei Brunei ( , ), formally Brunei Darussalam ( ms, Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: , ), is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its South China Sea coast, it is completely surrounded by t ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

, and

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...

, typically in the lowlands but sometimes as high as above sea level. This species has prominent, sharp ridges behind the eye, above the ear, referred to in its names.

Taxonomy

'' Polypedates pseudotilophus'' from Sumatra and (probably) Java was included in this species until 2014.

Description

Males measure up to and females up to in snout–vent length. The body is robust and dorsally lemon yellow in color, with many thin, black stripes; also the thighs have many black bars. The tympanum is conspicuous, with a serrated bony crest above it (the "ear"). Fingertips are expanded into large discs; those on the toes are smaller. The fingers have only rudimentary webbing whereas the toes are moderately webbed. The

tadpole A tadpole is the larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial. Tadpoles have some fish-like features that may not be found ...

s are yellowish green above and white below, acquiring the stripes seen in adults well before metamorphosis. The largest tadpoles are in total length. Borneo eared frog

Habitat and conservation

''Polypedates otilophus'' typically occurs in secondary habitats, at the edges of primary forest, and also in villages. They are most easily spotted at suitable breeding ponds where adults perch on vegetation 1–4 m above the ground. It is not considered a

threatened species Threatened species are any species (including animals, plants and fungi) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future. Species that are threatened are sometimes characterised by the population dynamics measure of '' critical depen ...

by the IUCN.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2701156 otilophus Endemic fauna of Borneo Amphibians of Brunei Amphibians of Indonesia Amphibians of Malaysia Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger Amphibians described in 1893 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Amphibians of Borneo