These beautiful frogs are known as the File-eared Tree Frog, also known as the Borneo Eared Frog, and are one of the most distinctive amphibians you’ll encounter in the jungles of Southeast Asia. Its name comes from the unique bony ridges behind its eyes, which feel as rough as a metal file.

These cute frogs are built for the rainforest, with large heads and a tan or yellowish skin covered in thin, dark stripes. This colouring acts as perfect camouflage, helping them disappear against the bark and dried leaves of the lowland forests in Borneo and Sumatra. If you want to spot one, you’ll need to wait for the sun to go down. These frogs are nocturnal “high-dwellers” that spend their nights perched on branches and stems a few meters above the forest floor.

They are particularly fond of hanging out near quiet breeding ponds, where they use their specialised sticky toe pads to grip onto vegetation. Seeing one sitting perfectly still in the beam of a flashlight is a highlight for anyone exploring the tropical night, as they serve as a tiny, striped reminder of the incredible biodiversity found in the heart of the rainforest.

What Other Frogs can be seen at Danum Valley?

For nature enthusiasts or herpers, a night walk in Danum Valley reveals a hidden world of amphibians. The forest comes alive after dark, especially near streams and damp lowlands, where a variety of unique frogs can be spotted clinging to leaves or resting on mossy rocks.

Here are some of the fascinating species you might encounter:

• File-eared Tree Frog: Famous for the bony, file-like ridges behind its eyes and its distinctive striped camouflage.

• Wallace’s Flying Frog: A bright green frog with large, webbed feet that allow it to glide between trees.

• Bornean Horned Frog: An expert at blending in with the forest floor, it looks exactly like a triangular dead leaf.

• Harlequin Tree Frog: A small, vibrant frog often found perched on low vegetation near breeding ponds.

• Frilled Tree Frog: Known for the beautiful skin “frills” along its legs that help it disappear against bark and lichen.

Quick Tip: Keep your flashlight handy and look for the “eye-shine” reflecting off the leaves—this is often the easiest way to spot these nocturnal residents!

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