Bornean Flat Headed Frog

Bornean Flat Headed Frog Facts

• The rather fascinating Bornean Flat Headed Frog constitutes an extremely unusual species of frog in the Bombinatoridae family.
• Despite its outward semblance of normality, this astounding creature actually possesses one dramatic difference distinguishing it from its relatives.
• This animal remains the only species of frog we know of that does not possess lungs.
• Scientists first discovered this incredibly rare creature in 1978. At that time only a single specimen appeared, but then we have records of a second individual 20 years later.
• Researchers discovered the lungless condition in 2008 when they found that the frog actually absorbs oxygen directly through its skin.
• Just imagine if humans were able to do that.

Bornean Flat Headed Frog Physical Description 

At this time, very little information exists about the extremely rare Bornean Flat Headed Frog, yet we do know that it displays a slight degree of sexual dimorphism.

The females appear to attain a length of about 3 in (7.5 cm), while the males grow slightly smaller in size. As its name indicates, the head develops unusually flattened, and the snout stays rounded in shape.

Also, both the hands and feet of this remarkable amphibian develop completely webbed.

The overall color pattern displays as predominantly brown, with black mottling.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Amphibia

Order: Anura

Family: Bombinatoridae

Genus: Barbourula

Species: B. kalimantanensis

Bornean Flat Headed Frog Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The Bornean Flat Headed Frog appears to have a severely limited zone of habitation.  The remarkable amphibian appears to only inhabit a few streams in two locations in the rainforest on the island of Borneo, in Asia.

The only individuals seen to date inhabited rivers with cold, fast-moving water, and found in rather remote locations.

The surprising animal lists as Highly Vulnerable on the records of the IUCN. Its primary threat appears to be a combination of habitat degradation and outright habitat loss.

The first occurs because the waters it inhabits continue to be increasingly contaminated with toxic metals from mining processes in the area.

The second occurs due to the ongoing development of the island for man’s purposes.

Check out our other articles on Wood Frog, Limnonectes larvaepartus, Black Rain Frog, Hyalinobatrachium dianae or Kermit the Frog