This little critter is Bufo melanostictus, a Southeast Asian Toad. These were common around Timika in the south of West Papua. Not a native, but introduced through cargo and zero quarantine. This toad may be to West Papua what the Cane Toad is to Northern Australia, although nowhere near as large in size.

These two were seen out on the canoe trip with the Kamoro. From the Ranidae (True Frogs) family, they are most likely the same species. I am very familiar with the only Australian Rana frog- the Wood Frog (Rana daemeli) which is also found around Timika. However, the call was very different, which makes Rana grisea the most likely candidate for this species. The individual on the left is around 40mm, the one on the right is 65mm.

This one was also on the canoe trip. Tiny, at 25mm long it had a high pitched insect-like call. Either Rana novaeguineae or another near identical undescribed pigmy Rana frog.

This plump little fellow was found by Dr Colin Tilbury at Tembagapura in the highlands. It belongs to the Xenobatrachus group, from the family Microhylidae. It burrows deep into damp moss where it lives. It is a direct breeder, having no tadpole stage. Eggs hatch into tiny frogs.

These frogs were found at Wamena in the Baliem Valley. I did not know where to look so I asked the kids to search the Taro fields for them- in exchange for bubblegum. They found these two. They were identified as Litoria darlingtoni. The call is a quick rattling chuckle.

This odd fellow is Platymantis papuensis. It is a frog from the family Ranidae (True Frogs.) Like many Papuan frogs, it is also a direct breeder- the eggs hatching into tiny frogs with no tadpoles. It lives on the rainforest floor in the leaf litter. The call is a rapid quacking. Photographed at Timika.

Hours of searching in the hot, damp forest tracking a high pitched "peeping" call finally revealing this undescribed Microhylid frog from the group Oreophryne. This tree-dwelling frog is also a direct breeder, reaching only 30mm in size or less.

Many thanks to Steve Richards for his valuable assistance with ID.