[3] As typical for the genus,[4] dark post-ocular mask is present, but it is not clearly demarcated posteriorly.

The sides have low-contrast pattern of brown clouded over white, gray, or faint yellow.

The dorsum is smooth or finely granular and has few, scattered, large, dark brown warts.

[3] The male advertisement call is a single pulsed note, sounding like a "quack".

[3] Papurana papua lives in swampy forests and flooded grasslands, including disturbed habitats, at elevations up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above sea level.