[2] The specific name colletti honours Robert Collett, Norwegian zoologist.

The dorsum is usually brownish or grayish, and most individuals have an hour-glass pattern in their back.

[5][6] The tadpoles grow to 33 mm (1.3 in) in total length and have a marbled pattern on head, trunk, and tail.

[4] Polypedates colletti inhabits lowland marshy evergreen rainforest areas, including mildly disturbed, selectively logged forest, at elevations up to 600 m (2,000 ft) above sea level.

[1] During the breeding, it forms aggregations around temporary rain pools;[1][4] adults perch at 1–2 m (3–7 ft) height in the vegetation.