Greater Malacca Toad

Fascinating facts about the Greater Malacca Toad

• Spanning five regions, from Peninsular Malaysia to the Natuna Islands, this toad lives across a stretch that includes both mainland and island ecosystems, showing how adaptable a single amphibian can be across diverse tropical landscapes.
• Males top out at about 48 mm (1.9 in) while females grow to 53–63 mm (2.1–2.5 in), a size gap that lets researchers tell the sexes apart in the field without handling the animals.
• Although it prefers swamp forests, the toad has been spotted hopping through rubber plantations, proving that even a species tied to watery habitats can slip into human-altered land when the conditions suit it.
• Even though it can be common where swampy ground remains, expanding oil-palm farms, new roads, and logging are shrinking its home, reminding us that a seemingly resilient creature can quickly become vulnerable when its habitat disappears.

At a glance

About the Greater Malacca Toad

The greater Malacca toad, Ingerophrynus quadriforcatus, is a modestly sized amphibian found in swamp forests of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Sumatra, and the Natuna Islands. Males reach about 48 mm in snout-vent length, while females grow to 53–63 mm. Its dorsum is a uniform dark or light brown, and it has a distinct tympanum. The skin on the head and body is covered with many conical spines, and the ventral side is yellowish-brown, possibly with dark spots. It breeds in standing water and has been found on rubber plantations. Though it is not abundant, it can be locally common where suitable swampy habitat remains undisturbed.

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