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Amphibians reach their greatest diversity in the tropics, particularly in the moist and hot environment of tropical rainforest and freshwater swamp forest.  Southeast Asia is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots for amphibians, where a remarkable evolutionary explosion has resulted in incredible diversity of form, colour and lifestyle: over 700 species occur in the region.  Frogs are to be found in the shallowest puddles, hiding under leaf litter, making their foam nests in streamside vegetation or calling incessantly from treeholes.

Frogs reach their greatest evolutionary expression in the diverse family of Asian Tree Frogs (Rhacophoridae), which includes the spectacular Flying Frogs. Equally remarkable are the tiny Narrow-mouthed Frogs or Chorus Frogs (Microhylidae) : these are often heard but rarely seen, as they measure just 2 cm long. Their jumping ability is quite remarkable as they can easily leap more than a metre or so i.e. more than 50 times body length !

Representative examples of Southeast Asia's frogs are presented here ... and examples from Papua New Guinea are compiled on a separate page.

Asiatic Tailed Caecilians  (Ichthyophiidae)

True Toads  (Bufonidae)   Members of the toad family are recognizable by their rough, warty skin (although this feature is not exclusive to toads). They possess a pair of raised, paratoid glands behind the eye, which secrete a cocktail of toxins when the toad is stressed, and which makes them unpalatable or poisonous to most predators. As of 2024, AmphibiaWeb lists 655 species in this family, of which more than 60 occur in Southeast Asia.  Examples :
 

  
Litter Frogs, Horned Frogs etc.  (Megophryidae)   Globally, around 200 species of frog belong to this family, of which 100 or so occur in Southeast Asia.  They tend to inhabit forest floor settings, often hiding amongst leaf litter.  Some possess remarkable camouflage which mimics dead leaves, the Malayan Horned Frog Pelobatrachus nasutus us being the best example of this adaptation.  Examples :
 

  
Fanged Frogs etc.  (Dicroglossidae)   As of 2017, AmphibiaWeb lists 195 species of frog in 14 genera in this family. In Southeast Asia there are around 100 species, mainly in the genera Ferjervarya, Limnonectes and Occidozyga.  Fanged Frogs (or Fork-tongued Frogs) are so-called because they possess a notched tongue and a pair of sharp projections on the lower jaw. Most species are patterned in various shades of brown. Some species can adapt well to man-made, highly altered habitats.   Examples :
 

  
Typical Frogs  (Ranidae)   With nearly 400 species worldwide, the family Ranidae includes many examples which have a body shape best described as that of a 'typical' frog i.e. they have a pointed snout, elongated body and long hind legs which makes them excellent jumpers.  There are around 150 species in Southeast Asia, many of which are attractively patterned with spots and stripes and are various shades of green and brown. Nearly all are stream or swamp-forest dwellers.   Examples :
 

 
Asian Tree Frogs   (Rhacophoridae)   AmphibiaWeb lists around 400 species in this family, of which more than 100 occur in Southeast Asia: these are mainly arboreal tree frogs, many of which lay their eggs in bubble nests suspended from vegetation. The group includes numerous species of the genus Philautus, known as bush frogs, but the most spectacular are the Rhacophorus flying frogs which have evolved extensive webbing between their toes which allows them to glide from tree to tree, high up in the canopy.  Examples :
  

 
Narrow-mouthed Frogs  (Microhylidae)  Within Southeast Asia this family is dominated by tiny, terrestrial frogs of the genus Microhyla (and Glyphoglossus), which spend much of their lives concealed in areas of waterlogged grass, or beneath leaf litter. Larger frogs include members of the genus Kaloula. In eastern Indonesia and New Guinea this family includes an abundance of species of the genera Austrochaperina, Callulops, Cophixalus, Hylophorbus, Oreophryne and others. Examples of these can be viewed in the New Guinea Frogs pages. Below are some examples from western parts of Southeast Asia :
  

Commonly introduced non-Southeast Asian species :

  See also ... Frogs of Papua New Guinea