Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Four-Lined Tree Frog

Finally, I was once again re-united with Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Its been more than a week since I've been there as we usually go there every Wednesday for our guiding. But on this particular day, it seemed that we didn't even need to guide at all, thanks to mother nature who decided to give the area a heavy downpour. Meanwhile as one class attended the SBWR Video, I led the other class to the side to show them a large Malayan Water Monitor. Without me knowing, a few pupils started taking photographs of something sitting on a big leaf- A Frog. My immediate thought was an Asian Toad but it turned out to be a Four-Lined Tree Frog.
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It was the first time for me to encounter this frog. Although it is said to be very common in Singapore, I rarely find frogs or toads in the nature reserves as majority of them are nocturnal in habits. The frog, alarmed by the sudden waves of flashlights from each person's camera, stood up alerted.
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The Four-Lined Tree Frog is the most common Tree Frog in Singapore and has adapted rather well to urbanisation. It is commensal with humans and can be found in disturbed forests, scrubland, parks and gardens. Most commonly encountered a few feet from the ground clinging to small stems, it may also be found in puddles on wet ground.
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As you can see, the frog had actually turned its whole body around, positioning its face to the rest of the plant, ready to jump at any moment. I was about to take another shot but just at that very moment a sudden movement from one of my schoolmates forced the frog to leap all the way to the other end of the plant. It actually covered a distance of nearly two metres! If it could jump this far during the day when it is inactive, I wonder how far it could jump at night when it is all active! I was astonished by its powerful hind legs and immediatley took two shots of it furthur away on the other end.
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We had to leave by then already. The sky showed no symptoms of the rain going to stop and hence we were helpless. We headed back to our buses before the rain got any heavier. At least I was glad I could find a nice creature even without having to go deep into the reserve.
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10 comments:

Shirls said...

Shawn, this frog is a pale morph usually they are darker n the lines are very clear. I have photos of the frogs on my blog as they live in my garden.

Bluebottle said...

Wow, Shawn, you raelly like frogs ! How often do you go to places like the nature reserves ?
*ps. I like your blog !

Shawn said...

Hi Shirls...
Thanks for the information. It was the first time spotting this frog and hence I had no idea of their specific colouration or anything. Its good to know that there are tree frogs in your garden. Of course, there should be if its near the forest...

And BlueBottle,
Yes I love frogs. In fact I love all kinds of Herptiles. I visit the Nature Reserves whenever I I have enough time. I have trips to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve every wednesday as we are guiding other schools about the Flora and Fauna thatc an be found in the Mangrove Broadwalk.

Bluebottle said...

Your so lucky! In my scool, we never go to places like nature reserves. Anyway, if my class goes, I'm like the only one who really likes nature that much! So they will be so noisy, and all the butterflies will fly away.

Shawn said...

Haha...
Don't worry, you are only in a Primary School, am I right? When you reach Secondary schools you will surely have trips to such places. Come to my school, Commonwealth Secondary and join my cca, then if u become a guide u ccan go to sungei buloh wetland reserve every wednesday.

Bluebottle said...

But Shawn, what is your cca?

Shawn said...

I'm in a CCA called Green Club. Our school is the centre of excellence in Environmental Education in the whole of the West Zone, all thanks to this particular CCA.

Adina Smothermon said...

Shawn, I'm doing a research project on different types of frogs. May I use some pictures from your blogs?

hans said...

thank you for your brilliant photos. one of my chefs found a frog like this between the bananas and thanks to your photos we could identify it. i have now placed it in a damp spot in my garden. seems to me that frogs do get around these days - even to Cape Tpwn South Africa!

Shawn said...

Hi Adina,
Sure, you may use my photos, but |I'd like to know more about your project as well!

Hi Hans,
Glad to hear you're benefiting from my blog! Well, you may still have to check with good researchers in order to be sure of the exact species. And yeah, frogs are everywhere!

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