Occidozyga lima

English name: Green Puddle Frog (aka “Pointed-tongued Floating Frog”, “Rough-skinned Floating Frog”)
Scientific name: Occidozyga lima
Thai name: Kiat chaa-na

Description: To 4cm long. A short, thick frog with a broad head. Body is grey, olive-brown, or olive-green, sometimes with an irregular yellow or bright green stripe down the back. Small bumps cover the skin, giving it a rough texture. Head is short but pointed, with notable bulbous eyes that are set high on the head. Tongue is pointed, though that is difficult to discern in the field. Underside is pale.

Tadpoles are small with pointed snouts.

Call: Two short, high-pitched peeps or squeaks.

Similar Species: Round-tongued Floating Frog has less conspicuous eyes that are set lower on the head, more widely-spaced skin bumps, and never has a green dorsal stripe.

Habitat: Found in stagnant lowland water bodies with dense vegetation, including ponds, marshes, rice paddies, and slow-flowing streams in grasslands, forests, and wetlands. Is almost never found away from water.

Place in the ecosystem: Eats insects. Eaten by birds, snakes, lizards, larger frogs, and fish.

Danger to humans: No danger to humans.

Conservation status and threats: The IUCN Red List lists the Green Puddle Frog as “Least Concern” due to its ability to tolerate a range of habitats and it large populations. I have yet to find this species in Bangkok.

Interesting facts: The bulbous eyes of the Green Puddle Frog allow it to float in the water with only its eyes and nostrils breaking the surface. It prefers areas with dense vegetation, where it can watch for both prey and predators without being seen. When it does observe a threat, it will dive down and bury itself in the mud or in underwater plants.

References:
The IUCN Red List: Occidozyga lima
Ecology Asia: Occidozyga lima
True Frogs: Ranidae – Pointed-tongue Floating Frog (Occidozyga lima): Species Accounts
A Field Guide to the Amphibians of Cambodia