Malaysia Widlife

Reptile & Amphibian Species

The composition of Malaysian wildlife is among the most diverse in the world. The abundace of rivers and streams, heavy rains, lush greenery and warm weather provide an ideal biotope for an immense variety of fauna, including herpetofauna (reptiles & amphibians), mammals, birds, invertebrates, fish and other amazing creatures. Each year, new discoveries are still being made and many rainforest areas remain unchartered and awaiting discovery.

	Reptiles Reptiles are a vast group of creatures defined by having scales on the body and being ectothermic, or cold-blooded. They are found almost everywhere in the world, except the Antartic, with a high composition of reptile species in the tropics. In Peninsular Malaysia, a wealth of reptile species occurs in all elevations of rainforest. Snakes and lizards are defined by the order of Squamata, while tortoises and turtles by the order of Testudines.
	Amphibians Amphibians are a taxon of creatures that do not produce calcified eggs, are ectothermic and breathe as well as absorb water through the skin. Amphibians also generally produce eggs that hatch in standing water, becoming tadpoles and eventually miniature versions of their adult parents. Frogs and toads make up a major composition of the species included in this taxon. In Peninsular Malaysia, the wet tropical rainforest is an ideal habitat for numerous frogs species.
	Arthropods Arthropods encompass the largest groups of wildlife in the world that include insects, arachnids, crustaceans and other creatures based on an exoskeleton. The more popular of these arthropods both in common knowledge and captivity are insects and arachnids. In Peninsular Malaysia, the richest spot for such creatures lie in the Cameron Highlands. Some of the fascinating species found here include beetles, mantids, phasmids, butterflies and tarantulas.
	Other Wildlife To be included in this section are other groups of wildlife such as mammals, birds and fish found in Peninsular Malaysia. We welcome contributions of images and information for these wildlife species from anyone with a keen interest in nature, professional or casual. If you would like to manage a section here, please feel free to enquire through email.