SUMMARY

• PREVALENCE: Common

• ACTIVE PERIOD: Active at night

• KEY ID FEATURES: Broad orange stripes, round, plump body

• SIZE: ~7cm (males/females)

• IUCN: LC - Least Concern

GALLERY

IMPORTANT: Many frogs have significant variance in coloration and pattern even within the same species. There can also be extreme differences in appearance from juveniles to adults and some species appear very similar in maturity.

DESCRIPTION

The Asiatic painted frog is a unique and easily identifiable species in Hong Kong. They are a medium sized frog with a narrow head and mouth, short thin limbs and a very plump body. They have highly distinct broad orange stripes running from the head down each side of the body terminating just before the hindlimb. An additional irregular brown stripe runs from behind each eye terminating just past mid body on either side. The dorsum is brown starting from between the eyes on top of the head often with a distinct thin black stripe running the length of the vertebra terminating at the cloaca. The head from between the eyes to the snout is orange with additional orange coloration beneath the brown stripes that extend back from the eyes. Fore and hindlimbs are light brown with faint blotches slightly darker than the underlying coloration. Light yellow or orange tubercles can often be seen on the posterior portion of the dorsum. Overall the skin appears quite smooth. Pupils are round and iris is most often black and gold. The head is significantly more narrow than the neck and body. Mouth is small and narrow, which aligns morphologically given the species preference to eat small invertebrates like termites.

This species has some color variation with certain individuals being lighter in color with lower contrast and others darker with high contrast, but markings and general color schemes remain the same.

The venter is entirely white or light yellow with brown mottling under the chin.

They have four digits on the forelimbs with slightly enlarged toe pads on each tip. No webbing present on the forelimb digits. Hindlimbs have five digits and minimal webbing.

BEHAVIOR

The Asiatic painted frog also has a very distinct call during mating season that sounds similar to a cow.

Asiatic painted frogs can produce a sticky mucus when threatened but this mucus is not thought to be toxic to humans.

HABITAT

Very widespread and common across Hong Kong. Normally in any environment with still or standing water in or adjacent to forest or wetland habitat.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

CAUTION SHOULD TAKEN WHEN INTERACTING WITH AMPHIBIANS: The Asiatic painted frog is unique in appearance and not easily confused with other species.