The banded bullfrog

A banded bullfrog is seen in Bijia Mountain Park, Futian District. 

The banded bullfrog

The Asian painted frog or banded bullfrog (Kaloula pulchra) is a medium-sized frog of about 7.5 centimeters in length. It has a tiny head with a rounded snout and a rounded, broad, robust body covered in dark brown. This amphibian is named “banded” (or “painted”) for the two well-defined dark orange stripes that go from the face to the groin. 

花狭口蛙是一种中等体型的蛙类，体长约7.5厘米。它们的头部很小，吻部短圆，躯干亦短小浑圆，体色深棕，体侧具从脸部一直延伸至腹股沟的鲜艳橘红色纵纹，也因此得名。 

One of the most remarkable characteristics of this frog is that when threatened, it will inflate its body to look bigger and stronger, so attackers may be discouraged from attacking. However, this behavior becomes futile in the face of big predators like egrets or snakes.

花狭口蛙最显著的特征之一，就是在遭受威胁的时候会通过膨胀身体的方式，让自己看起来更为强壮，从而吓退来犯之敌。然而，在拥有绝对优势的捕食者面前（如鹭科动物与蛇类），它们的示威也只是徒劳罢了。 

Aside from their ability to inflate their bodies, these fascinating frogs also secrete a sticky, milky substance that can be disgusting for the palate of predators, which prefer instead to feed on other frog species. 

不过，花狭口蛙的秘密武器也不止膨胀身体这一招。它们还可以通过皮肤分泌一种牛奶般的乳白色黏液，让天敌无从下口，转而猎食其他蛙类。

These fabulous frogs are nocturnal and spend their daytime hiding under dead litter or inside tree trunk holes. They prefer places near water sources, and their reproductive time starts with the rainy season, when males become noisy. They make deep, loud calls while floating in the water along with other males, and their calls can be heard from quite a distance. 

花狭口蛙白天躲在落叶丛或树洞中休息，到了晚上才会出来活动。它们喜欢栖息在水边，并在雨季开始繁殖。繁殖期间，雄性会在水潭处聚集并发出响亮雄浑的鸣叫，以吸引雌性前来交配。由于聚集的个体数量庞大，经常隔着很远的距离都能听到它们求偶的叫声。 

Kaloula pulchra individuals love feeding on ants, and they are always on the lookout for a good spot where an ant parade is passing. They will find a comfortable position and then start feasting on the insects by spreading out their broad sticky tongues and eat until they are satisfied. 

花狭口蛙喜食蚁类，经常四处寻找蚁群。捕食的时候，它们会埋伏在一个舒适的位置，伸出长长的舌头对四处逃窜的蚂蚁一顿搜刮，大吃特吃，直到填饱肚子为止。 

Like other frog species, Asian painted frogs have been introduced to several countries including the Philippines, where they have become an environmental problem. It is essential to take care of local species. It is also vital to respect every ecosystem, preserve them the way they are meant to be, and be cautious about introducing non-native species. 

和其他蛙类一样，花狭口蛙中也有部分个体散播至菲律宾等国家，在当地成为入侵物种，造成环境问题。因此我们更应该管理好身边的本土物种，让它们在应该在的地方繁衍生息，以免成为其他地区的入侵物种，对当地的生态系统造成伤害。