Philippine Flat-headed Frog

 

    Deep within the pristine, fast-flowing mountain streams of Palawan, a master of underwater camouflage is hiding among the submerged rocks. Meet Barbourula busuangensis, more commonly known as the Philippine Flat-headed Frog, the Ghost of the Palawan Rapids. It isn’t just a typical garden frog, it is an evolutionary marvel designed specifically for life in the torrent. This species is the largest frog in Palawan, but finding it can be difficult, especially during the day.

    As the name suggests, its body is remarkably flat. This low profile allows it to wedge itself under submerged rocks and resist being swept away by powerful river currents. Its dark skin, which is covered in small tubercles (wart-like bumps), effectively becomes invisible when it’s pressed against a wet river stones. Unlike many frogs that split their time between land and water, B. busuangensis is almost entirely aquatic. It even has webbings on both its feet and hands to navigate expertly in the rapids.

    This frog is endemic to the Greater Palawan Faunal Region, where it is present on the Palawan mainland and the islands of Busuanga, Culion, and Balabac. The IUCN listed this species as "Near Threatened" because the already fragmented population is declining due to the degradation of its natural habitat. It inhabits only fast-flowing, unpolluted streams in lowland tropical forests up to elevations of around 800 masl. It has been observed that when the stream turns very muddy or polluted, this frog is among the first species to disappear.