Occidozyga baluensis (Boulenger, 1896)

Species Classification

Occidozyga baluensis is a species of small to medium-sized frog.

Adult Size

Males reach approximately 25 mm (0.98 in) in snout–vent length, while females grow to 35 mm (1.4 in).

Dorsal Coloration

Their dorsal coloration is variable, ranging from brown, grey, to olive, and sometimes includes dark markings.

Ventral and Marking Details

Some individuals have a vertebral stripe, and their belly is cream-colored with numerous brown spots.

Tadpole Tail Morphology

The tadpoles of this species have a long tail with a low tail fin and a pointed tip.

Tadpole Mouth Structure

Their mouth is positioned terminally and has a quite small opening.

Species Distribution

This species is found in northwestern Borneo, covering Sarawak (Malaysia), Brunei, and Kalimantan (Indonesia); it has also been recorded once in Lampung, Sumatra, though this record is considered questionable.

Etymology

The species' scientific name references its type locality, "Mount Kina Balu, North Borneo".

Adult Habitat

Occidozyga baluensis lives in shallow ponds or water-filled depressions where clear water seeps out at the base of a slope.

Tadpole Ecology and Diet

Its tadpoles inhabit the shallow film of water covering leaf litter in seepage areas, are predatory, and eat small invertebrates.

Conservation Threats

This species is threatened by habitat loss caused by clear-cutting.