Malaysian flying frog beetle

[Cockney Guy]

When in Malaysia, I walked toward the lift door in a hotel and saw what I thought was a very large black toad. As I bent down to get a closer look, the creature leaped like a toad and then flew around my head making a very loud flapping sound, it scared the sh1t out of me.

I went to report it to one of the hotel staff and he came to investigate. When he saw it, he said Oh that won't hurt you, its only a Rianne Rianne ( I'm sure thats not the correct spelling but thats how he pronounced it)

I have searched the net to find a picture of the thing without success, although there are some references to Malaysian flying frogs with pictures but none as large as the one I saw and none were black, mostly green.

Does anyone know the correct spelling for the creature so that I can continue my search? Not that I want one or anything like that :) I'm just interested.

I understood from a local there that the kids often tied a string to the leg of the things and flew them around in circles.

Many thanks

CG

[Mr Veritas]

Could it have been a "flying fox" more correctly called a fruit bat?
Here is a picture of some:~
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jufK9LBrE7w/SYoyxOBwZjI/ AAAAAAAACMU/3OzruKkRcOA/s800/KALONG%20FLYING%2 0FOX.jpg

[Cockney Guy]

Thanks for the link Mr Veritas but the creature I saw was not like those, it was very much like a frog or toad in all respects of shape but was about three times the size of any frog or toad we might find here and although it leaped just like a frog, it also flew making a very loud sound. I have been to Malaysia a few times and only ever saw that one.

Thank you for your contribution

CG