Frogs of Malaysia Stamps

Date of Issue : 3-May-2007

Stamps Classification : Malaysia Animal Stamp; Malaysia Amphibian Stamp

Malaysia is among 20 countries with a high number of amphibian species, including frogs and toads. The frogs and toads featured in this series of stamp collection are most rare found in the word forests and mangrove swamps across the country.

Pos Malaysia Bhd released a set of special stamps called Frogs of Malaysia on Thursday at post offices nationwide. By releasing these stamps, it convey the importance of conserving nature for our future generations, as well as to educate the public about these colorful and unique amphibians.

The stamps are available in two denominations. The Brown Tree Toad stamps cost 30 sen each while the Horned Toad and Spotted Tree Frog stamps cost 50 sen each. Another stamp, featuring the Lesser Swamp Frog, is available at RM1.

Brown Tree Toad (Pedostibes hosii) Stamp

Denomination : 30sen

Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm

The Brown Tree Toad has a large, stout body with a thick bony ridge behind the eye and connected to a small paratoid gland. The fingers are long and distinctly shaped, probably an adaptation to enable this species to climb trees. The top of its head is smooth and the back has a few scattered warts.

The female’s size is bigger than the male, while the colour difference between both genders is light brown for male and black or dark purple with a pattern of yellow spots for female. It can be found mostly in undisturbed forests, but may also be found in old, secondary forests. The Brown Tree Toad can be found in all parts of Borneo as well as in Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand.



Horned Toad (Megophrys nasuta) Stamp

Denomination : 30sen

Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm

Megophys nasuta have specific features that are different from other types of toads. The ‘horn’ is very wide and pointed, with triangular projection from the edge of both eyelids. The hind legs are shorter than the front legs and normally males are substantially smaller than females. The colour is light clay to reddish red with one or two dark spots on the back.
Using its leaf-like appearance for camouflage, the Horned Toad is virtually undetectable in the leaf litter of the forest unless it moves. The animal is perfectly designed to fit in with its surrounding.

The Horned Toad lives in flat to steep rain forest where thick bamboo grows and the area is damp and cool. It is commonly found throughout Borneo, Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia.



Spotted Tree Frog (Nyctixalus Pictus) Stamp

Denomination : 30sen

Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm

Spotted Tree Frogs is small with relatively long snout and long hind limbs. The skin on the back, head and upper surface of the limbs is rough, with many small, spiny bumps. The body is reddish cinnamon brown or pale red with white spots scattered on its back and, along the edge of the snout and even on the upper eyelid.

The upper half of the iris of the eye is white while the lower half is brown. This is one of the most distinctly coloured and cannot be mistaken for any other species. The size of Spotted Tree Frogs is almost the same with the exception of the female being slightly larger than the male.

Spotted Tree Frogs lives in primary and old secondary forests and can be found most often in hilly terrains near water areas at all parts of Borneo except for Brunei, southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra and the Phillipines.



Lesser Swamp Frog (Rana (baramica) laterimaculata) Miniature Sheet Stamp

Denomination : RM1

Stamp Size : 35mm x 35mm

The size of frogs from the Ranidae family is small and medium. The Lesser Swamp Frog has a pointed head and snout that project slightly from the profile while the fingers are long with slightly dilated tips. It also has small, low and rounded glandular warts on the surface of the skin and scattered oval glands at the sides.

Lesser Swamp Frogs has a thin line on the upper lip that continues towards the lower part of the eye and below the eardrum. Its dorsal colour can vary from medium reddish-brown to very dark brown while the underside is creamy coloured.

Swampy areas, primary and secondary forests are the natural habitat of this species and can be easily found in West Malaysia, Singapore and the Borneo Islands.

Wallace’s Flying Frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus) Miniature Sheet

Wallace’s Flying Frog is a very large tree frog with an almost rounded snout and very large hands and feet. The fingers and toes are fully webbed while the colour of its body is shiny green with light yellow on the lateral sides as well as on the toe pads and snout. The hind limbs are relatively larger than the front limbs that provide added thrust upon jumping.

The males are slightly smaller than the females. Wallace’s Flying Frogs lives in primary or logged forests at low elevation. It can also be found on low tree branches near rain puddles by the logging area after a heavy rain. It descends from the forest canopy to breed at muddy pools of water. Wallace’s Flying Frog can be found in Kalimantan, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, southern Thailand, Sabah and Sarawak.



Lesser Swamp Frog, Wallace’s Flying Frog Miniature Sheet

Denomination : RM1

Miniature Sheet Size : 100mm x 70mm

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