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AmphibianTerrestrialIntermediate
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Kio Flying Frog
Rhacophorus kio
A large and striking Asian tree frog, famous for its ability to glide between branches using its massive webbed feet.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Rhacophoridae
Genus:Rhacophorus
Species:Rhacophorus kio
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
70 - 90 %
Day temperature
26 °C
Night temperature
20 - 22 °C
Ambient temperature
26 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: This frog is native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, with populations distributed across southern China, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. It spends most of its life high up in the forest canopy, rarely descending to the ground except to breed around temporary pools, marshes, and slow-moving streams during the monsoon season.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the family Rhacophoridae and the genus Rhacophorus. Rhacophorus kio is closely related to Rhacophorus feae, and was historically confused with it. Genetic and morphological studies have validated its status as a distinct species, exhibiting unique call characteristics and subtle differences in web coloration.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal and arboreal. It is famous for its gliding behavior, often referred to as 'flying'. By launching itself from tall trees and spreading its large, fully webbed hands and feet, it can parachute downward, controlling its trajectory to land safely on distant leaves or trunks.
Morphology: A large tree frog, with females reaching 8 to 10 cm in length, while males are smaller, around 6 to 8 cm. It features a flattened body profile and large eyes with horizontal pupils. The fingers and toes end in expanded adhesive discs for climbing and are connected by extensive, colorful webbing.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a large, vertically oriented arboreal vivarium, measuring at least 60x45x90 cm (24x18x36 inches) for a pair. The enclosure should be furnished with stout branches, cork bark, and large-leafed live plants (such as Philodendron, Monstera, or Pothos) to support their weight. Use a moisture-retaining substrate like coconut coir or damp sphagnum moss.
Lighting and Heating: Provide a 12-hour light cycle using plant-appropriate LEDs and a low-strength (2-5%) UVB lamp positioned outside the mesh top. Maintain a daytime temperature gradient of 24°C to 28°C (75-82°F) from top to bottom. Allow a nighttime temperature drop to approximately 20-22°C (68-72°F).
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain relative humidity between 70% and 90%. Mist the terrarium thoroughly with RO or distilled water twice daily. A large, shallow water bowl with clean, dechlorinated water must be placed at the bottom for soaking. Change the water daily, as stagnant conditions quickly lead to skin infections.
Feeding and Supplementation: Insectivorous. Feed a variety of live gut-loaded insects, such as crickets, locusts, roaches, and occasional silkworms. Dust the prey items with a high-quality calcium and vitamin D3 supplement twice a week for juveniles and once a week for healthy adults.
Compatibility: Can be housed in pairs or small groups of the same species if the enclosure is sufficiently large. Avoid housing them with smaller frog species that they might attempt to swallow, or with aggressive lizards that share different habitat requirements.
Health and Common Diseases: Susceptible to bacterial skin infections (such as red leg disease) caused by poor hygiene and wet, stagnant substrate. Metabolic bone disease (MBD) can occur without proper calcium and UVB exposure. Quarantine new specimens and screen for internal parasites.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
This frog is native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, with populations distributed across southern China, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. It spends most of its life high up in the forest canopy, rarely descending to the ground except to breed around temporary pools, marshes, and slow-moving streams during the monsoon season.
Origin
South and Southeast AsiaEast Asia
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 8.16 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 8.16 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 8.16 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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