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 Kinabalu’s rivers and streams support about 40 species of freshwater fish, but
virtually none are found about 1,500 meter (4,900 feet). The most common are the
four species of the little Gastromyzon that graze on algae growing on boulders
in the water and which are found up to just over 1,500 meters (5,900 feet).
Gastromyzon are also called Sucker fish because of their ability to cling to
rocks in fast moving waters by the adaptation of the lower fins into and
efficient clasping sucker.
Sixty eight species of frogs are presently recorded from the Kinabalu Park,
ranging from the lowlands right up to the Paka Cave at 3,500 meters ( 10,000
feet). Most of these can generally be regarded as lowland, however, and only
four have been able to adapt to the harsh climatic conditions found at the Paka
Cave and above.
 One of these high-mountain frogs is the small balckish-brown Philautus mjobergii.
This frog belongs to a group of moss forest specialists that have a most unusual
lifestyle. The Philautus species in this group take advantage of the perpetual
dampness in the cloud forest to lay their relatively large eggs in wet moss or
under dead leaves; sometimes even in the decaying cups of the large pitcher
plants. The eggs hatch into tiny froglets protected by the gelatinous egg case,
never passing through a tadpole stage. The success of this strategy is shown by
the fact that 30% of the frogs recorded from the montane forest are Philautus
species. Most species however, need water for at least part of their life cycle
and spend either all their lives near a stream or at least return to water to
breed, whether it be a stream, rainwater accumulated in a hole in a tree of a
temporary pool on the ground after a storm.
 Borneo’s most famous frog is Wallace’s Flaying Frog (Rhacophaorus nigropalmatus).
It has not been collected from the Park, but there are observation records from
Poring. Wallace’s Flying Frog, of course, does not fly, but it can glide quite
long distances by spreading out the webbing between its fingers and its toes.
Even its arms and legs are adorned with long flaps of skin to increase its
surface area and thus slow its descent.
Though the other species in the tree frog family have their digits webbed to a
greater or lesser degree, not all are recorded as being able to glide in the
same way. All tree frogs, however, spear to have the striking ability to change
their colour to some degree, which must help them blend in with the leaves on
which they rest.
  Snakes and lizards are relatively common in the lowlands, but they have not
adapted as well as the frogs to the cool and wet conditions higher up, being
cold-blooded and dependent on the warmth of the sun. Snakes in particular are
not commonly seen because they try very hard to avoid detection. Lizards are a
bit more visible. If staying at Poring, almost the first animals you encounter
will probably be the little house geckos that follow wherever man makes a home;
other geckos are forest dwellers. One species at Park HQ is also a glider. |
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