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About

Intention

This web site was created to to promote the knowledge of Bornean frogs and toads and to present some results of the authors' joint research projects.

We strive for presenting to the user high-quality images for identification of both Bornean frogs and their larval forms. We provide some basic biological information and help you to access additional knowledge. 

Images and Copyrights

Understand and respect copyrights! Click on the Creative Commons icon in the footer before you intend to make use of images or information from this web site. Please also read  >Photos

Background

In 2001, Alexander and Indraneil developed the concept for the “Tadpoles of East Malaysia” project. After two years of scouting potential study sites and consulting with local authorities, we secured funding for this biodiversity initiative from the Volkswagen Foundation. This marked the beginning of many years of research on Borneo.

The core objective was to build a comprehensive inventory of all Bornean tadpoles. In particular, we aimed to produce color images of as many species as possible, documenting their larval forms to facilitate rapid and accurate identification. In numerous cases, species assignments were confirmed by genetic barcoding (16S rRNA gene), allowing reliable matching of tadpoles to their corresponding adults.

This work culminated in the publication of A Guide to the Tadpoles of Borneo (2022). However, the project is still far from complete. Tadpoles of several species remain unknown—or may have been misidentified—and new species continue to be discovered.

Sponsors

We thank the following sponsors and institutions that have contributed and helped in one way or the other:

Volkswagen Foundation Germany, Swiss Academy of Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), IBEC (Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation), University Malaysia Sabah: ITBC, Universität Hamburg, Naturhistorisches Museum Bern, Economic Planning Unit, Sabah Parks, Forest Department of Sarawak, National Parks Staff, Zweibrüder Optoelectronics, Gesellschaft der Freunde und Förderer des Zoologischen Museums Hamburg

We gratefully acknowledge the granting of permission to cross-link:

Amphibian Species of the World by Dr. Darrel Frost, American Museum of Natural History for taxonomic information about species.

AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California. 

We wish to thank all colleagues, students, friends, and other individuals who have provided information, images, or have helped us in the field and in the lab over the years!