MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION OF Pelobatrachus nasutus (SCHLEGEL, 1858) (ORDER: ANURA, FAMILY: MEGOPHRYIDAE) FROM DIFFERENT LOCALITIES IN SARAWAK

Pelobatrachus nasutus is a habitat generalist as it can dispersed across fragmented landscapes. Assessing the variation in morphological traits across populations is necessary to understand the potential impact of environmental changes on the species. This study investigates morphological variation within the species from various localities across Sarawak, East Malaysia. A total of 26 morphometric characteristics were measured on 58 specimens deposited in the UniMAS Zoological Museum and IBEC Laboratory. Statistical analyses were employed using Discriminant Function Analysis and the Post hoc Tukey test, revealing significant results in head length, forearm, and eye sizes, as well as snout to nare length and dorsal dermal fold length. The finding indicates that these external morphologies are useful characters for survivorship (feeding habit, escape mechanism, body immune defence) in their different habitat types. In addition, conspicuous tubercles were observed more abundantly on the dorsal skin of the frog found in non-protected forests, suggesting the frog’s adaptation strategy to the environment. Overall, this study emphasised that P. nasutus can adapt to varying habitat conditions across fragmented landscapes in Sarawak through the optimal use of physical characteristics to suit their ecological needs in various habitat types.