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Name This Animal

South African Tree Frog

19 years ago

I photographed this tree frog a couple of years ago in the garden of the hotel where I was staying at Lake Pleasant (this is near Knysna, South Africa). Does anyone know what species it might be. I have tried to identify it a few times, but with no luck.

Thanks for any help

Aaron

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Comments (3)

maddy_RSA
19 years ago
Hi Aaron,

I finally got hold of the Frog book!
Judging by the shape of your frog, it can really only be a Painted Reed Frog, Hyperolius marmoratus, the only one occurring in the Knysna area being the subspecies verrucosus.
Or else it is an undescribed species.
How big (or small - he really looks like a tiny guy) was he?

Maddy
Aaron_UK
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you Maddy, it looks like you might have got it. As far as I remember (I took the picture in 1999!) he was about 4 or 5 centimetres long, but I could be wrong. I glad to finally have a name for him.
Thanks again
Aaron
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maddy_RSA
19 years ago
Hi Aaron,

The Painted Reed Frog is between 25 and 35 mm long, however, it is also the only frog of this kind in the Knysna area.
The one we falsely call 'tree frog', the Foam Nest Frog (Chiromantis xerampelina) looks very much like yours as well, but measures 50 - 90 mm and does not occur farther south than about St.Lucia on the KZN north coast.
Well, I'm glad I could help!
Maddy

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