“We have very little rainforest left in Singapore. Yet this rainforest holds some of the world’s most diverse and special tropical wildlife. This is our very own. Let’s keep this gift we have.

“Please join us as we chain ourselves to a tree at Hong Lim Park this Saturday 22nd June to make our appeal to save MacRitchie Forest. Details of our appeal is in the attached invitation below. Come at 3pm and picnic with like-minded friends. Chain yourself to our tree, too, if you wish! And don’t leave before you sign our petition.

“If you can’t join us on Saturday, and would like to act for our rainforest, please read this LINK and sign our petition to the Land Transport Authority of Singapore. It will only take you a few minutes, yet it will make a great difference. Together, we can make a difference! Please act now.”

Teresa Teo-Guttensohn & Dr Vilma D’Rozario
Singapore
18th June 2013

Earlier Posts:
1. Saving MacRitchie forest: A youngster’s view LINK
2: Introduction LINK
3: Flying Lemur LINK
4: Mammals LINK
5. Fragile frogs and tender tadpoles LINK
6. Refuge for reptiles LINK

“I made a mental pact with Heinrich Kuhl that I would revisit Cibodas Botanical Gardens (1200m.asl) for a better view of White-flanked Sunbird (Aethopyga eximia), also known as Kuhl’s Sunbird in his memory.

“This I did in early March 2013 and hoped to retrace my steps to the Red Powder puff (Calliandra haematocephala) flowering bushes that I last saw a pair of those birds in August 2012.

“I decided it has to be at least a one night stay inside the Gardens to do justice to the place, wind down and ‘catch’ other early birds as well. I was in luck with confirmed accommodation bookings and given best room view of the Colonial Dutch Guesthouse with its sprawling manicured gardens (above).

“I was unprepared for a punishing, hard earned trip. I was on my last leg visit to West Java and knowingly it was rainy season, I somehow managed to beat the rains in other birding areas earlier visited, only to receive the accumulative doses upon my arrival at Cibodas Botanical Gardens.

“For the next 24hours of my stay, the rains were relentless. Whenever reduced to a heavy drizzle, I would do a quick dash out. Each time I did, I managed to photograph a bird, rushed indoors again before my DGscope succumbed to the rains. I found myself repeating this Scene 1: Act 1, no less than four times. I soon gave up this ridiculous idea and resigned to a newfound practicing apprenticeship hobby – ‘Geriatric Birding and Photography made easy’!

“As there was no evening catering in the Guesthouse, my new found improvised dinner menu was “Bananas on Saltine Crackers.’ Didn’t know they tasted so good and I had a huge Chinaman hot flask to keep warm company overnight.

“After a quick breakfast and chat with caretaker that I would be not staying another night under such rainy circumstances, I re-parked myself on the veranda with DGscope. I sat and we stared into a Ficus tree about 20 metres away that received the full splatter of the relentless rains that continued from overnight.

“The evergreen tree was about seven metres tall with blooming white flowers, coated lichen branches and crowned with a profusion of other epiphytic plants and a generous spread of mistletoes (above).

“From this vantage view, I turned boredom into a relaxing, positive and creative energy like sipping corpus amounts of hot coffee to keep warm, watched who visited the tree, who came, who went and even photo talked with DGscope-being, we were the only in-house guests that day.

“It was the only time that I had this forced upon opportunity to practice distance and flying shots with a Digiscope of tiny birds. They seemed to want a good game of Hide-N-Seek in the rains and used the tree as refuge, stopover and opportunity to feed on berries, insects and nectar produced by scented blooms amongst the profusion of foilage.

“Here were some of the visitors.

“A pair of tri-coloured butterflies observed to be prospecting and sipping nectar from the white blooms (below left).

“A pair of Orange-spotted Bulbuls (Pycnonotus bimaculatus) – endemic to the Indonesian archipelago, flew in and perched for very brief pit stopover and a quick opportunity refuel of ripen, red berries before the pair flew off. They gave only a partial view in the rains (above right).

“Plate 5 (below left) is provided to show the luscious shine of thick cover foliages refreshed by rains with flowering buds, blooms and berries polished clean by water droplets. Further into the photograph, a blurry picture of a Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassina) perched and took refuge with feathers puffed up in the cold.

“To do justice to this endearing solo flycatcher, as first bird to show itself into the open – signalling a short lived abating rain, a decent view of this turquoise coloured and demure bird is provided (above right).

“Next to the ficus tree, a juvenile Blood-breasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum sanguinolentum) in molt was observed to perch on a giant fern. She was looking lost and frantically calling for its parent (below).

“The adult male drenched in rain, played deaf and was too busy foraging and preening to keep in top form. Here a ballerina shot taken with a one foot stance on tree and the other foot, stretched out in comfort position (below).

“Found only in Sumatra and Java, the Blood-breasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum sanguinolentum) is striking in its plumage features and certainly lives up to its name as shown in this male, frontal shot with its bloody, gorgeous breasts (left).

“Near noon and final hour before checking out, the rains continued. I resigned to the fact that I would have no more opportunity to get out for a walk looking for Kuhl’s Sunbird (Aethopyga eximia) and besides, those Red Powder puff blooms would have been withered by the heavy rains and the birds would find no reason of attraction to be around that vicinity.

“Then… magically at the eleventh hour, a dark pair of small, sunbird-looking birds flew towards the tree and disappeared into it; flashing brief coloured glimpse of red and yellow which I followed intensely with my binoculars. Species confirmation came through partially obstructed views when the male showed his titillating white-flanks.

“DGscope and I sat up. Mesmerised by its frontal iridescence, we followed the bird without blinking our eyes.

“Finally… Kuhl answered my pleading calls and provided just a second of a view to enable this one shot with the male Sunbird singing and calling in the rain (above left).

“This is probably the last time I need to see Kuhl’s Sunbird at Cibodas B.Gardens and…. what a sweet, punishing memory to keep (above right).

“‘Danke’ and ‘Auf Wiedershen’ Kuhl…”

Travel Advisory: The Guesthouse inside the Botanical Gardens is not within walking distance with bags to lug in. Courtesy transport from entrance gate to Guesthouse doesn’t exist. Good hotel and hospitality management hasn’t arrived to Cibodas Botanical Gardens yet. Nearest café that double as mini shop is several hundred metres away across the lawn. It has limited local menu providing poor quality foods, ill-suited to western palate and shuts at 5pm. Apart from daily breakfast inclusive with room tariffs, there is no in-house catering unless group prearrangement is made. Room tariffs have increased almost doubled since March 2013 (US$45/room). Be prepared to pay for room with nice lawn views but slumber and be transported to a Chino décor styled 1950’s room of back street, old Chinatown.

Avian Writer Daisy O’Neill
Penang, Malaysia
5th June 2013
COPYRIGHT ARTICLE AND ALL IMAGES: COURTESY OF DAISY ONEILL BIRD CONSERVATION FUND

“Was caught in a little forest birdwave today and heard simultaneous calls from Pin-striped Tit Babblers (Macronous gularis), a Van Hasselt’s Sunbird (formerly known as Purple-throated) (Leptcoma brasiliana), and a Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra).

“Above is a video of the Little Spiderhunter calling, with the sunbird tweeting in the background and a tailorbird (not sure which) trying to get some attention too.

“The image at the top shows a Little Spiderhunter on a separate occasion, perched on its favourite Torch Ginger ( Etlingera elatior) flower which it visits almost every day for breakfast.”

Lena Chow
Singapore
25th May 2013

Q: What are reptiles?
A: Reptiles are animals with back-bones (vertebrates) and have their entire body covered with scales of different shapes, sizes and colours. The main groups of reptiles include the crocodiles, lizards, snakes and turtles. Their metabolic rate is often affected by the environmental temperature. They reproduce by laying eggs with leathery to hard shells.

Q: Why are reptiles important components of the ecosystem?
A: Many of them are carnivores, feeding on a varied diet of insects, worms, small mammals, birds, amphibians, fish and even other reptiles. Hence, they are key predators in forests and streams. Some reptiles, such as monitor lizards, play the role of scavenger and consume dead or dying animals. Terrapins which feed on fallen fruit can help to disperse the seeds of native forest plant species.

Q: How many species of reptiles are living in Singapore?
A: Singapore has more species of reptiles than the United Kingdom. At least 29 species of lizards, 50 species of snakes, and six turtles occur in Singapore. Of these, more than half live within our Central Nature Reserve. Now if you have a serious phobia of snakes, then you may wish to consider living in New Zealand, which is a snake-free country.

Q: Which species of native reptiles live only in our forests?
A: The following are representative reptilian species that have been thriving in the mature forests of MacRitchie for countless generations.

• The Earless Agamid, Aphaniotis fusca (below) climbs among the vines and branches of the cool and shady understorey, in search of bugs and beetles to feed on.

• The Green Crested Lizard, Bronchocela cristatella (below) can blend in well amongst dense forest foliage. It is also a good climber and is able to take bold leaps from the canopy.

• Kendall’s Rock Gecko, Cnemaspis kendallii (below) is often active by day and is well adapted for scrambling over the rough surfaces of rocky boulders and tree bark.

• The Lowland Dwarf Gecko, Hemiphyllodactylus typus (below) is only active at night (nocturnal) and patrols broad leaves to feed on small insects, such as ants and flies.

• The Clouded Monitor, Varanus nebulosus (below, photograph by Vilma D’Rozario) is perfectly at home in the trees, sleeping up there by night and basking in the sun in the mornings. It will not hesitate to consume a rotting carcass, yet also spends much of its time scraping the forest floor for earthworms and insects.

• The Twin-barred Tree Snake, Chrysopelea pelias (below) is highly arboreal and spends much of its life amongst the branches. Geckoes are one of its favourite prey items.

• The Red-tailed Racer, Gonyosoma oxycephalum (below) is a gorgeous green snake with a brick-red tail. This species is also arboreal and has a keen sense of smell, which will lead it to either bat roosts or bird nests in search of a warm-blooded meal.

• The Bigeye Green Whip Snake, Ahaetulla mycterizens (below) is the smaller relative of the more commonly seen Oriental Whip Snake, Ahaetulla prasina. It has relatively larger eyes and only lives in undisturbed forests, often close to streams.

• The Wagler’s Pit-Viper, Tropidolaemus wagleri (below) surely is one of the finest snakes in our forests, patiently poised and waiting for the right moment to strike at any passing prey. With special pits near their nostrils, they can detect the warmth emanating from a nearby rat or bird. They have a highly prehensile tail, which coils around branches for a secure grip.

• The Spiny Hill Terrapin, Heosemys spinosa (below, photograph by Vilma D’Rozario) is probably one of the most long-lived of our forest reptiles. However, they also grow and breed very slowly. As their diet includes fallen forest fruits, these terrapins help to disperse the seeds of local forest plants far and wide.

• The Forest Softshell Turtle, Dogania subplana (below-top) is a strict inhabitant of clean and clear forest streams. Its shell consists of cartilage, which makes it more flexible than its hard-shelled cousins. It is an amazing ambush predator – its entire body will be buried and concealed beneath the sandy substrate, with only the eyes and nostrils poking out to seek passing fish prey (below-bottom).

Q: What can happen to our forest reptiles if their habitat is disturbed or demolished?
A: First and foremost, the lives of many aquatic and amphibious species will be disrupted. With excessive siltation and decreased visibility, predators like the Forest Softshell Turtle will encounter great difficulty in locating prey. If clearing of vegetation involves the felling of trees, many arboreal species will be adversely affected. Many tree-dwelling lizards or snakes can be faithful occupants of particular roost sites or perches up in the branches of mature trees. Prolonged earthworks and excavation activity with noisy machinery will drive away many snakes, which are inherently sensitive to the slightest vibrations.

Q: What is a ‘refuge’?
A: According to the ‘Cambridge International Dictionary’, ‘refuge’ refers to a place which gives protection or shelter from danger, trouble, unhappiness, etc. The Central Catchment Nature Reserve has indeed been a refuge for such a high diversity of reptiles for the longest time. We hope that it will continue to do so indefinitely.

Dr. Leong Tzi Ming & Dr. Vilma D’Rozario
Singapore
8th June 2013

Earlier Posts:
1. Saving MacRitchie forest: A youngster’s view LINK
2: Introduction LINK
3: Flying Lemur LINK
4: Mammals LINK
5. Fragile frogs and tender tadpoles LINK

“Was out cycling in the early morning with my wife when we came across a few Oriental Magpie-robins (Copsychus saularis musicus) signing louder than usual and chasing each other around. We stopped to watch and fortunately my camera was with me in my backpack.

“They were involved in a courtship ritual. Two of the adult males were fighting over a female. Have seen this a few times but good to document some parts of it, which include:

1. A singing competition, in which the female also join.

2. Posturing – tilting the head backwards while singing loudly.

“The above composite shows the two competing males (images taken <1 second apart). The image below was on a roof where one male was trying to prevent the other male from having access to the female with the same posture. Both show this head tilt courtship behaviour to intimidate the rival.

3. Another posture is seen (left) where the male hunches down and walks in crouched fashion. Both males did this to intimidate each other.

4. The males also chased each other around and, at times, had physical conflict (below)..

“When we left after a few minutes they were still at it, the courtship unresolved.

“A surprise this morning was spotting a White-rumped Sharma (Copsychus malabaricus) in the heart of the city where the magpie-robins were.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh City, Perak, Malaysia
19th May 2013

“This year has been a miserable year. I see less than half the number of nesting in the same area. This I had earlier attributed to the development of the empty plots of land into highrise condos. The open fields and tall grasses probably could support more birds in terms of food supply.

“I anticipate that the numbers will come back but not to previous levels once the condominiums mature. These birds are happy to nest near human developments.

“Another observation to add this year…

“With the decrease in food supply, most nests only had one fledgling. The only fledgling I saw probably also got predated by crows or koels as I have not heard it since it left the nest. Normally, you can hear the baby bird’s calls in the vicinity as they are not great fliers when they first leave the nest. Its calls ceased on the second day it left the nest.

“My observation is that the pressure from predators like crows and koels is making the bolder bulbuls more successful in raising chicks in my area. There is a large clump of bamboo hedge in a place used as a show flat. It is very overgrown and there are many bulbuls there too. But I have have seen marauding koels that take their time and take eggs or chicks from the nests and even sow some wild oats of their own.

“The Red-whiskered Bulbuls (Pycnonotus jocosus) in my area have also failed in their nesting. I saw them try to drive away a koel but to no avail.

“Birds that seek high nests fall prey to crows who often patrol the area as well.

“So the best bet is to nest low and very near human dwellings to keep the predators at bay.

“Hopefully next year is a better year for the bulbuls.”

Jeremy Lee
Singapore
31st May 2013

NOTE: Top-left image of Yellow-vented Bulbul by Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS and bottom-left of Red-whiskered Bulbul by YC Wee.

“On the morning of 29th May 2013 in Fraser’s Hill, Peninsular Malaysia, we sighted a pair of Malaysian Cuckoo-shrikes (Coracina javensis) tending to their nest, which was situated high up a tree and constructed upon the fork of a branch. Most of the time, either partner would be seated on the nest, which was largely composed of foliose lichen, with a few strands of filamentous lichen (above, female).

“The male could be recognised by having darker lores, which are almost charcoal black (above, male).

“There is also a small, blackish beard on his chin which is most noticeable when he puffs his throat (above).

“At intervals of between 10 to 15 minutes, either partner would return with a beakful of nesting material, mostly pieces of foliose lichen (above, male). As soon as one partner arrives, the other would fly off immediately in search of more material.

“Very often, the cuckoo-shrikes also came back with strands of spider silk plastered onto their heads (above, male). These silk strands would them be carefully transferred onto the nest to aid with adhesion. In addition, they have also been observed to expel some saliva over the lichen, which probably serves as a natural glue to help bind the nest together. The integrity and strength of the nest would be tested in due course, especially under highland wind and rain. We wish the responsible parents every success as they start a family in the weeks and months to come.

“Relevant video clips of these cuckoo-shrikes may be previewed as follows:

“Female sitting quietly on nest, above.

“Male temporarily vacating nest, above.

“Female returning to nest, then attaching lichen and spider silk. Also appears to apply saliva (natural glue) onto nest, above..

“Male perched on nearby branch, keenly anticipating return of female:

“Nearby, a small family of White-thighed Langurs was feeding at the canopy:

“The Malaysian Cuckoo-shrike (also known as the Javan Cuckoo-shrike) is strictly montane and is a conspicuous bird around Fraser’s Hill (Strange, 2004). Breeding typically occurs from March to June, with two buffish eggs being laid (Robson, 2000).”

Dr. Leong Tzi Ming and Dr. Vilma D’Rozario
Singapore
4th June 2013

REFERENCES:
1. Robson, C., 2000. A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd, London. 504 pp.
2. Strange, M., 2004. Birds of Fraser’s Hill – an Illustrated Guide and Checklist. Nature’s Niche Pte Ltd, Singapore. 120 pp.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are grateful to Subaraj Rajathurai for enlightening discussions on the diversity of Cuckoo-Shrikes in Malaysia and kindly sharing his knowledge of their sexual dimorphism and biology.

“Once again, the apparent conflict calls of Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) was in the air in my condominium yesterday morning. It was about 8.30 am when I heard the commotion. Thinking that it was coming from the Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia rosea) in front of me, I quickly switched on my camera to document the calls, which were that of a male that sounded like kow-kow-kow and kwok-kwok-kwok, and that of a female that sounded like high pitch gig-gig. As it turned out, they were found in an unknown small- to medium-sized tree of about 15 feet tall on the right of the Trumpet Tree.

“The male was located, exhibiting typical head, body, wing and tail movements in such situations. The female was next found, though almost completely hidden in the foliage but detected by its jerks. As the male advanced closer to the female, they continued with the posturing and vocalisation.

“In the end, when the birds were just next to each other, I found a spot which offered fairly good view of them. At one stage, it appeared that the male launched either an attack or an unsuccessful attempt to mount the female. Unfortunately, my camera battery ran out of juice shortly after, and the camera auto-shutdown. Continuing my observation with uncorrected eyesight, the male was seen to ‘attack’ again twice. As they tussled, they tumbled down to eye level together, right in front of me before parting way. The male on my left and the female on my right – so close that I could almost feel the air turbulence – a pretty exciting experience!

“Nonetheless, the question of whether it was a case of male aggression or failed attempts to mate remained unclear.

“The edited video can be viewed above.”

Sun Chong Hong
Singapore
29th May 2013

“In late April 2008, a revisit to North Sulawesi concluded to be one of the best offshore travelling highlights in bird digiscopy. Rather sadly though, the wilds of fast disappearing tropical rainforests of the Indonesian Archipelago stared blankly in return – spelling gloom and doom of an impending permanent loss of flora and fauna pristine habitats that future generations will not get to see anymore.

“I had the exclusive service of enthusiastic local bird guide – Fan to show me the endemics I returned specially for. Had I waited a bit longer, it would be harder and less chances of seeing any quality birds left in the wild.

“As we took to a 8km trail walk, we unknowingly spooked a largish black bird perched above us. I heard only the waffle of heavy winged beats and in time to see a startled bird flew further away. Fortunately, she flew and perched onto another branch along side a steep ravine.

“For me, it was only a black looking bird that did not want to be disturbed nor did the bird gave me any adrenalin rush on site.

“For Fan, he was more excited than I for he knew what he saw and screamed in a whisper.
‘Sulawesi Hornbill! Sulawesi Hornbill!’.

“Fan had only seen this Hornbill species twice and urged me to take a photo shot. I had to bend over to the edge of the ravine to peep glimpse of this partially hidden bird under the tree canopy through my binoculars.

“Photographing this bird was assessed not easy but Fan and I teamed up well. For safety harness, I had him holding on tightly to the rear of my waist pouch belt, with room only for DGScope to do a one-legged stand, me one footed stand and my right foot hung loose over the deep ravine edge!

“This bird-Sulawesi Tarictic Hornbill (Penelopides exarhatus) has turned out to be the second endemic Hornbill species for the island of Sulawesi and its adjacent islands- a bird much more difficult to see and professed to be less photographed (left).

“There are two sub-species: P. e. exarhatus found only in N. Sulawesi and the Lembeh Island and P. e. sanfordi found in the rest of Sulawesi.

“I was to later realise this photographed species was in demand by scientific studies and field guide authors, despite the fact she turned out rather drab and blurry.

“Upgraded from ‘Near Threatened’, this species has recently joined the ranks amongst the ‘Vulnerable’ species of Hornbills in the IUCN Red Data List of endangered birds. This means the Sulawesi Tarictic Hornbill has a 10% probability of extinction within 100 years.

“Considered to be scientifically a smallish Hornbill of 45cm size, the female bird with virtually all feathered black has pale corrugated upper mandibles looking like a ripen cocoa pod (below left).

“She soon made her way amongst the lists of flora/fauna Sulawesi endemics in the published manual, ‘Manual Identifikasi Beberapa Spesies Kunci Di-Sulawesi’ by authors Abdul Haris Mustari and Iwan Kurniawan published in 2011 with sponsorship from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry Department of Indonesia (above right).

“‘Polished’ up by Morten Strange, this Sulawesi Tarictic Hornbill (P. e. exarhatus) from N. Sulawesi made her second debut two years later and joined the ranks of 56 species of Hornbills in the latest, newly published Photographic Guide book, ‘Hornbills Of The World’ tri-authored by Pilai Poonswad, Alan Kemp and Morten Strange (left) LINK.

“A ‘must have’ book for all birders and photographers who have a penchant for Hornbills. Packed with much updated information, it has an impressive collection of contributed bird photographs taken in the wild by more than sixty photographers worldwide; to include some outstanding images from famed photojournalist – Tim Laman, renowned for his exceedingly successful ‘Birds-Of-Paradise’ project with National Geographic and in collaboration with Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

“Having recently made a birding tour of West Java and so disappointed at the fast disappearing bird species in forest reserves, parks and gardens, I resigned to the fact that I was not going to be able to see or photograph bird rarities in the wild – not going to be easy anymore.

“To have a glimpse of them at second best, I had to see what was available behind cages and bars at Bird Parks and this… I reluctantly did and splurged on one as a day outing trip (left).

“Birds in bird parks/sanctuaries have sacrificed their freedom to live in captivity and in keeping their species conservatively alive become showpieces, upkeep and revenue earners in the name of education, science, recreation and ecotourism.

“Here a forlorn male, adult portrait of a Sulawesi Tarictic Hornbill (P. e.sanfordi) posed with a demure look through his long eyelashes. |PLATE 6|

“What makes this Southerner sub-species anatomically different from his wild sister of the north?

“I discovered the difference only after reading, ‘Hornbills of the World’. I hope readers will find the answer too and be mesmerised in the newly released publication by Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte. Ltd. Or contact/visit Nature’s Niche Bookshop in Singapore for a 25x25cm action packed copy LINK.”

Avian Writer Daisy O’Neill
Penang, Malaysia
1st Jne 2013
Copyright article and all images: Courtesy of Daisy O’Neill Bird & Conservation Fund

References:
1). Manual Indentifikasi Beberapa Spesies Kunci Di-Sulawesi by Abdul Haris Mustari and Iwan Kuniawan. Published 2011

2) Hornbills of the World by Pilai Poonswad, Alan Kemp and Morten Strange. Published 2013.

Q: What are frogs?
A: Frogs are amphibians which live in and out of water. They have delicate skin which needs to be kept cool and moist all the time. As adults, they breathe with their lungs but through their thin skin as well. As tadpoles, they breathe with gills underwater, just as fish do.

Q: Why are frogs so sensitive?
A: Most species of frogs are adapted to live in specific habitats, with strict requirements on air quality, water quality, temperature range, humidity levels and vegetation integrity. Any deviation from these environmental norms can have negative effects on their life cycle and populations. Hence, frogs are recognised as important bioindicators.

Q: How many species of frogs live in Singapore?
A: Singapore has more species of frogs and toads than the United Kingdom or New Zealand. About 25 species of amphibians have been recorded here, of which three quarters are confined to our remnant forests.

Q: Which species of frogs and toads live only in our forests?
A: The following are representative amphibian species that have been thriving in the mature forests of MacRitchie for countless generations.

• The Malayan Giant Frog (above-top) is Singapore’s largest frog, with mature individuals exceeding a foot in length. They live and breed along clean, clear streams, laying their eggs over the sandy substrate (above-bottom).

• The Malesian Frog (above-top) was first described as a new species in 1984, with Singapore as the type locality. It requires shallow streams and side pools to breed in (above-bottom, photograph by Vilma D’Rozario).

• The Rhinoceros Frog (above) is also dependent on forest streams to survive. Some individuals may have an orange stripe on their back.

• The Black-eyed Litter Frog (above) was discovered to be a new species to Science in 1963, based on research conducted in Singapore’s freshwater swamp forest.

• The Copper-cheeked Frog (above) can be quite a ‘chameleon’ as it is capable of switching its body colours between green and brown.

• The Four-ridged Toad (above) is a shy and secretive native amphibian which often calls from under cover of dense leaf litter on the forest floor.

• The Golden-eared Rough-sided Frog (above) prefers waterlogged habitats and frequently climbs up and calls while perched upon branches or leaves.

• The Masked Rough-sided Frog (above) is also a swamp specialist and blends well amongst the dark brown leaves on the soggy ground.

• Manthey’s Chorus Frog (above) is one of the smallest frogs in Singapore, rarely exceeding the size of your thumbnail.

• The Puddle Frog (above) is aptly named, as it is reliably found within small puddles and pools of accumulated rainwater.

• The Black-spotted Sticky Frog (above) breeds in water bodies formed by the fusion of buttress roots. It has also been known to reproduce within pitcher plants!

• The Spotted Tree Frog (above) also depends on mature trees for its continued survival. Their tadpoles will develop slowly within treeholes (below), feeding on organic debris.

Q: What can happen to our forest frogs if their habitat is disturbed or demolished?
A: Excessive and unrestrained earthworks, excavation or vegetation clearance will definitely have detrimental effects on these frogs. Temperatures will rise in exposed areas and silt load will increase in freshwater bodies. Tadpoles will suffocate, as their gills get clogged up by suspended solids in the streams. Adult frogs will become caked in mud and their respiration will be compromised (below, photograph by Vilma D’Rozario). As the environment becomes more challenging for them to survive, their immunity levels decrease and they become more susceptible to diseases. Their disappearance is the ultimate outcome.

Q: Can you imagine your own home being disturbed, defiled or destroyed?
A: No, my family and I love my home, and I wish that day never comes.

Dr. Leong Tzi Ming & Dr. Vilma D’Rozario
Singapore
7th June 2013

Earlier Posts:
1. Saving MacRitchie forest: A youngster’s view LINK
2: Introduction LINK
3: Flying Lemur LINK
4: Mammals LINK