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PAINTED REED FROG (Hyperolius marmoratus)


Call- short loud percing whistles.


Habitat- savanna pans.


Habits- calls from the side of reed beds.


size- 25-35mm


notes- this forg has 9 sub speices and they are all in different colours found in all differnt areas.

Every time, after heavy rains fell and the pans fill up with water, the, what we call in Afrikaans, "vleipaddas" make their appearance. They make a high pitched sound and it appears that there are hundreds of them. In times of drought you don't hear them even if the drought continues for several years.

Can anybody help?

Could be one of many species.

Sounds like a Reed Frog though.

There is a book by Vincent Carruthers, Frogs and frogging in Southern Africa (Struik, 2001, ISBN 1 86872 607X). This has a CD included with plenty of frog calls. That ought to help you get a positive i.d.

Rois- sounds like the painted reed frog to me! they are common all over southern africa

Sounds a lot like a Caco Almost deafening they so loud, yet they not much bigger then a thumb nail and gather in large numbers after the rain! Went frogging once, and I learnt my lesson, ear muffs are needed!!!!

Where did you go froging?

Done some in Pretoria, Otherwise I go on my own Frogging expos St Lucia, the Pan at Bakgatla in Pilanesberg, Southern Mozambique, Waterberg.

Been told a lot of frogging goes on in Bonamanzi Cant wait, (Never seen a Painted Reed Frog before) amongst many other species found there!

Thanks RJ

I need to do some frogging!!!

You are welcome to come to my garden ... I can't hear myself thinking at the moment!

@Imberbe

Did some frogging in Bonamanzi.......managed quite an array of species, with a good 5 lifers I think!

WOW! well done RJ!

Satara pond.

WTM - Can you give more detail on the painted reed frogs at Satara pond ? What time of year have you seen them . Will be there next month and would like to seek them out if it's not too late in the season ?

Hi Highbury,

I saw them in January at the big pond next to the swimming pool. Also saw quite a few at the pond in Skukuza at the traffic circle in February.

I am not sure if and when they hibernate, but go have a look regardless. Nigh time with a torch will be your best bet.