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🐸 Bornean Flat-headed Frog (Barbourula kalimantanensis)
The Lungless Amphibian of Borneo's Rapids

The Bornean Flat-headed Frog is an endangered amphibian endemic to the rainforests of Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo. It inhabits cold, fast-flowing streams in remote areas of the island's interior.

Physical Characteristics:
Size: Females reach up to 77 mm in snout-to-vent length.
Appearance: Features a flattened body and broad head, adaptations for life in swift currents.
Skin: Smooth dorsally with small tubercles on the posterior; ventral skin is smooth.
Coloration: Generally brown with black mottling.

Unique Biology:
Respiration: Notably, this species was once thought to be the only frog without lungs, relying entirely on cutaneous respiration (breathing through the skin). However, recent studies have revealed that it does possess lungs, albeit very small ones .

Evolutionary Significance: One of only two species in its genus, diverging from other amphibians around 65 million years ago, making it a subject of interest for evolutionary studies .

Habitat:
Found exclusively in clear, cold, and fast-flowing rivers within the Kapuas River basin.
Prefers pristine rainforest environments with minimal human disturbance.

Conservation Status:
IUCN Red List: Classified as Endangered due to:
Habitat degradation from illegal gold mining leading to increased river turbidity and pollution.
Limited distribution, known from only a few localities.

Protection Efforts: Not currently known from any protected areas, emphasizing the need for habitat conservation upstream of its known habitats .

The Bornean Flat-headed Frog is a unique and ecologically significant species, representing both an evolutionary relic and an indicator of freshwater ecosystem health in Borneo. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensure its survival amid increasing environmental pressures‪@Predrag0007‬