You're using an outdated browser. Please upgrade to a modern browser for the best experience.
List of Amphibians of South Africa: Comparison
Please note this is a comparison between Version 1 by Camila Xu and Version 2 by Camila Xu.

This list of amphibians of South Africa contains species that form a part of the class Amphibia (phylum Chordata) fauna of South Africa. The list follows the South African National Bioinformatics Institute listing. Lua error: Cannot read a valid page: first name is Amphibian. Where common names are given, they are not the only common names in use for the species.

  • amphibian
  • amphibians
  • amphibia

1. Anura

Order Anura – frogs and toads

1.1. Arthroleptidae

Family Arthroleptidae

  • Genus Arthroleptis:[1]
    • Arthroleptis stenodactylus Pfeffer, 1893, savannah squeaking frog, endemic to Africa
    • Arthroleptis wahlbergii Smith, 1849, bush squeaker, syn. Arthroleptis wageri, endemic
  • Genus Leptopelis:[1]
    • Leptopelis bocagi (Günther, 1865), endemic to Africa
    • Leptopelis mossambicus Poynton, 1985, Mozambique tree frog, endemic
    • Leptopelis natalensis (Smith, 1849), Natal tree frog, Hylambates (Leptopelis) natalensis, endemic
    • Leptopelis xenodactylus Poynton, 1963, long-toed tree frog, Leptopelis natalensis (Smith, 1849), endemic

1.2. Brevicipitidae

Family Brevicipitidae

  • Genus Breviceps:[1]
    • Breviceps acutirostris Poynton, 1963, strawberry rain frog, endemic
    • Breviceps adspersus Peters, 1882, Transvaal short-headed frog, endemic
      • Breviceps adspersus adspersus Peters, 1882, endemic
      • Breviceps adspersus pentheri Werner, 1899, endemic
    • Breviceps bagginsi Minter, 2003, Bilbo's rain frog, endemic
    • Breviceps fuscus Hewitt, 1925, black rain frog, endemic
    • Breviceps gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758), Cape rain frog, endemic
    • Breviceps macrops Boulenger, 1907, Boulenger's short-headed frog, endemic
    • Breviceps maculatus FitzSimons, 1947, endemic
    • Breviceps montanus Power, 1926, mountain rain frog, endemic
    • Breviceps mossambicus Peters, 1854, flat-face frog, endemic
    • Breviceps namaquensis Power, 1926, Namaqua rain frog, endemic
    • Breviceps rosei Power, 1926, Rose's rain frog, endemic
    • Breviceps rosei vansoni FitzSimons, 1946, endemic
    • Breviceps sopranus Minter, 2003, whistling rain frog, endemic
    • Breviceps sylvestris FitzSimons, 1930, forest rain frog, endemic
      • Breviceps sylvestris taeniatus Poynton, 1963, endemic
    • Breviceps verrucosus Rapp, 1842, plaintive rain frog, endemic

1.3. Bufonidae

Family Bufonidae

  • Genus Amietophrynus:[1]
    • Amietophrynus garmani (Meek, 1897), Garman's toad, syn. Bufo garmani Meek, 1897, endemic to Africa
    • Amietophrynus gutturalis (Power, 1927), guttural toad, syn. Bufo gutturalis Power, 1927, endemic to Africa
    • Amietophrynus maculatus (Hallowell, 1854), flat-backed toad, syn. Bufo maculatus Hallowell, 1854, endemic to Africa
    • Amietophrynus pantherinus (Smith, 1828), western leopard toad, syn. Bufo cruciger Schmidt, 1846, Bufo pantherinus Smith, 1828, endemic
    • Amietophrynus pardalis (Hewitt, 1935), eastern leopard toad, syn. Bufo pardalis Hewitt, 1935, Bufo regularis pardalis Hewitt, 1935, endemic
    • Amietophrynus poweri (Hewitt, 1935), Kimberley toad, syn. Bufo regularis poweri Hewitt, 1935, Bufo poweri Hewitt, 1935, endemic
    • Amietophrynus rangeri (Hewitt, 1935), Kei Road toad, syn. Bufo regularis rangeri Hewitt, 1935, Bufo rangeri Hewitt, 1935, endemic
  • Genus Capensibufo:[1]
    • Capensibufo rosei (Hewitt, 1926), Cape mountain toad, syn. Bufo rosei, endemic in South Africa
    • Capensibufo tradouwi (Hewitt, 1926), Tradouw's mountain toad, syn. Bufo tradouwi, endemic
  • Genus Poyntonophrynus:[1]
    • Poyntonophrynus fenoulheti (Hewitt & Methuen, 1912), Transvaal dwarf toad, syn. Bufo fenoulheti Hewitt and Methuen, 1912, endemic to Africa
    • Poyntonophrynus vertebralis (Smith, 1848), African dwarf toad, syn. Bufo vertebralis Smith, 1848, endemic
  • Genus Schismaderma:[1]
    • Schismaderma carens (Smith, 1848), red toad, syn. Bufo carens, Schismaderma lateralis, endemic
  • Genus Vandijkophrynus:[1]
    • Vandijkophrynus amatolicus (Hewitt, 1925), Amatola toad, syn. Bufo amatolicus Hewitt, 1925 |Bufo angusticeps amatolica Hewitt, 1925, endemic
    • Vandijkophrynus angusticeps (Smith, 1848), sand toad, syn. Bufo angusticeps Smith, 1848, endemic
    • Vandijkophrynus gariepensis (Smith, 1848), karroo toad, syn. Bufo gariepensis Smith, 1848, endemic in Southern Africa
    • Vandijkophrynus gariepensis gariepensis (Smith, 1848), endemic
    • Vandijkophrynus gariepensis nubicolus Hewitt, 1927, endemic
    • Vandijkophrynus robinsoni (Branch & Braack, 1996), paradise toad, syn. Bufo robinsoni Branch and Braack, 1996, endemic in Southern Africa

1.4. Heleophrynidae

Family Heleophrynidae

  • Genus Hadromophryne:[1]
    • Hadromophryne natalensis (Hewitt, 1913), Natal ghost frog, syn. Heleophryne sylvestris, Heleophryne natalensis Hewitt, 1913, endemic in Southern Africa
  • Genus Heleophryne:[1]
    • Heleophryne depressa FritzSimons, 1946, endemic
    • Heleophryne hewitti Boycott, 1988, Hewitt's ghost frog, endemic
    • Heleophryne orientalis FitzSimons, 1946, eastern ghost frog, syn. Heleophryne purcelli orientalis, endemic
    • Heleophryne purcelli Sclater, 1898, Purcell's African ghost frog, syn. Heleophryne purcelli purcelli, endemic
    • Heleophryne regis Hewitt, 1910, southern ghost frog, syn. Heleophryne purcelli regis, endemic
    • Heleophryne rosei Hewitt, 1925, Rose's ghost frog, endemic

1.5. Hemisotidae

Family Hemisotidae

  • Genus Hemisus:[1]
    • Hemisus guineensis Cope, 1865, Guinea snout-burrower, syn. Engystoma vermiculatum, Hemisus marmoratum guineensis, endemic
    • Hemisus guttatus (Rapp, 1842), spotted burrowing frog, syn. Engystoma guttatus, endemic
    • Hemisus marmoratus (Peters, 1854), marbled snout-burrower, endemic

1.6. Hyperoliidae

Family Hyperoliidae

  • Genus Afrixalus:[1]
    • Afrixalus aureus Pickersgill, 1984, golden spiny reed frog, syn. Afrixalus aureus aureus Pickersgill, 1984, Afrixalus aureus crotalus Pickersgill, 1984, Afrixalus crotalus Pickersgill, 1984, endemic
    • Afrixalus delicatus Pickersgill, 1984, delicate spiny reed frog, endemic
    • Afrixalus fornasini (Bianconi, 1849), Fornasini's spiny reed frog, syn. Afrixalus fornasinii, endemic
    • Afrixalus knysnae (Loveridge, 1954), Knysna spiny reed frog, syn. Hyperolius knysnae, endemic
    • Afrixalus spinifrons (Cope, 1862), Natal spiny reed frog, endemic
  • Genus Hyperolius:[1]
    • Hyperolius acuticeps Ahl, 1931, sharp-nosed reed frog, syn. Hyperolius poweri Loveridge, 1938, endemic
    • Hyperolius argus Peters, 1854, yellow spotted reed frog, syn. Rappia argus, endemic
    • Hyperolius horstockii (Schlegel, 1837), Horstock's reed frog, syn. Eucnemis horstokii, Hyla horstockii, Rappia horstockii, endemic
    • Hyperolius marmoratus Rapp, 1842, painted reed frog, endemic
    • Hyperolius nasutus Günther, 1865, long reed frog, endemic
    • Hyperolius pickersgilli Raw, 1982, Pickersgill's reed frog, endemic
    • Hyperolius poweri Loveridge, 1938, Power's reed frog, endemic
    • Hyperolius pusillus (Cope, 1862), water lily reed frog, syn. Crumenifera pusilla, Rappia pusilla, endemic
    • Hyperolius semidiscus Hewitt, 1927, yellow-striped reed frog, endemic
    • Hyperolius tuberilinguis Smith, 1849, tinker reed frog, syn. Hyperolius tuberilinguis, Rappia tuberilinguis, endemic
  • Genus Kassina:[1]
    • Kassina maculata (Duméril, 1853), red-legged kassina, syn. Hylambates maculatus, endemic
    • Kassina senegalensis (Duméril & Bibron, 1841), Senegal running frog, endemic
  • Genus Semnodactylus:[1]
    • Semnodactylus wealii (Boulenger, 1882), Weale's running frog, syn. Cassina wealii, endemic

1.7. Microhylidae

Family Microhylidae

  • Genus Phrynomantis:[1]
    • Phrynomantis annectens Werner, 1910, red-spotted Namibia frog, syn. Phrynomerus annectens, endemic
    • Phrynomantis bifasciatus (Smith, 1847), South African snake-necked frog, syn. Phrynomerus bifasciatus, endemic

1.8. Phrynobatrachidae

Family Phrynobatrachidae

  • Genus Phrynobatrachus:[1]
    • Phrynobatrachus acridoides (Cope, 1867), Zanzibar puddle frog, endemic to Africa
    • Phrynobatrachus mababiensis FitzSimons, 1932, Mababe river frog, syn. Phrynobatrachus vanrooyeni, endemic
    • Phrynobatrachus natalensis (Smith, 1849), Natal puddle frog, syn. Stenorhynchus natalensis Smith, 1849, endemic

1.9. Pipidae

Family Pipidae

  • Genus Xenopus:[1]
    • Xenopus gilli Rose & Hewitt, 1927, Cape clawed toad, syn. Xenopus laevis gilli, Xenopus gilli Rose and Hewitt, 1927, endemic
    • Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1802), African clawed frog, syn. Bufo laevis, endemic
    • Xenopus muelleri (Peters, 1844), Muller's clawed frog, syn. Dactylethra muelleri, endemic

1.10. Ptychadenidae

Family Ptychadenidae

  • Genus Hildebrandtia:[1]
    • Hildebrandtia ornata (Peters, 1878), ornate frog, endemic
  • Genus Ptychadena:[1]
    • Ptychadena anchietae (Bocage, 1868), savannah ridged frog, syn. Rana anchietae Bocage, 1868, endemic to Africa
    • Ptychadena mascareniensis (Duméril & Bibron, 1841), Mascarene ridged frog, syn. Rana mascareniensis, endemic
    • Ptychadena mossambica (Peters, 1854), Mozambique ridged frog, syn. Rana mossambica, endemic
    • Ptychadena oxyrhynchus (Smith, 1849), sharp-nosed ridged frog, syn. Rana oxyrhynchus endemic
    • Ptychadena porosissima (Steindachner, 1867), three-striped grass frog, syn. Rana porosissima, endemic
    • Ptychadena pumilio (Boulenger, 1920), Medine grassland frog, endemic to Africa
    • Ptychadena schillukorum (Werner, 1908), Sudan ridged frog, endemic to Africa
    • Ptychadena taenioscelis Laurent, 1954, small ridged frog, endemic to Africa
    • Ptychadena uzungwensis (Loveridge, 1932), Uzungwe grassland frog, syn. Rana mascareniensis uzungwensis, endemic

1.11. Pyxicephalidae

Family Pyxicephalidae

  • Genus Amietia:[1]
    • Amietia angolensis (Bocage, 1866), Angola river frog, syn. Afrana angolensis (Bocage, 1866), syn. Rana angolensis Bocage 1866, endemic to Africa
    • Amietia dracomontana (Channing, 1978), Drakensberg river frog, syn. Afrana dracomontana (Channing, 1978), Rana dracomontana Channing 1978, endemic
    • Amietia fuscigula (Duméril & Bibron, 1841), Cape river frog, syn. Strongylopus hymenopus (Boulenger, 1920), Afrana fuscigula (Duméril and Bibron, 1841), endemic
    • Amietia vandijki (Visser & Channing, 1997), Van Dijk's river frog, syn. Afrana vandijki Visser and Channing, 1997, endemic
    • Amietia vertebralis (Hewitt, 1927), large-mouthed frog, syn. Rana vertebralis, Amietia umbraculata
  • Genus Anhydrophryne:[1]
    • Anhydrophryne hewitti (FitzSimons, 1947), Natal chirping frog, syn. Arthroleptella hewitti FitzSimons, 1947, endemic
    • Anhydrophryne rattrayi Hewitt, 1919, Hogsback frog, endemic
  • Genus Arthroleptella:[1]
    • Arthroleptella bicolor Hewitt, 1926, Bainskloof moss frog, endemic
    • Arthroleptella ngongoniensis Bishop and Passmore, 1993, mistbelt chirping frog, syn. Arthroleptella ngongoniensis Bishop and Passmore, 1993, endemic
    • Arthroleptella drewesii Channing, Hendricks & Dawood, 1994, Drewes' moss frog, endemic
    • Arthroleptella landdrosia Dawood & Channing, 2000, Landdros moss frog, endemic
    • Arthroleptella lightfooti (Boulenger, 1910), tiny chirping frog, endemic
    • Arthroleptella rugosa Turner & Channing, 2008, introduced
    • Arthroleptella subvoce Turner, de Villiers, Dawood & Channing, 2004
    • Arthroleptella villiersi Hewitt, 1935, De Villiers' moss frog, endemic
  • Genus Cacosternum:[1]
    • Cacosternum boettgeri (Boulenger, 1882), Boettger's dainty frog, syn. Arthroleptis boettgeri
    • Cacosternum capense Hewitt, 1925, cross-marked frog, endemic
    • Cacosternum karooicum Boycott, de Villiers & Scott, 2002, Karoo Caco, endemic
    • Cacosternum namaquense Werner, 1910, Namaqua dainty frog, endemic
    • Cacosternum nanum Boulenger, 1887, dwarf dainty frog, endemic
    • Cacosternum nanum Polynton 1963, small dainty frog, endemic
    • Cacosternum platys Rose, 1950, smooth dainty frog, endemic
    • Cacosternum poyntoni Lambiris, 1988, Poynton's caco, endemic
    • Cacosternum striatum FitzSimons, 1947, striped metal frog, endemic
  • Genus Microbatrachella:[1]
    • Microbatrachella capensis (Boulenger, 1910), micro frog, syn. Phrynobatrachus capensis, Microbatrachus capensis, endemic
  • Genus Natalobatrachus:[1]
    • Natalobatrachus bonebergi Hewitt & Methuen, 1912, Natal diving frog, syn. Phrynobatrachus bonebergi, endemic
  • Genus Poyntonia:[1]
    • Poyntonia paludicola Channing & Boycott, 1989, montane marsh frog, endemic
  • Genus Pyxicephalus:[1]
    • Pyxicephalus adspersus Tschudi, 1838, South African burrowing frog, near endemic
    • Pyxicephalus edulis Peters, 1854, edible bullfrog, syn. Rana maltzanii, endemic
  • Genus Strongylopus:[1]
    • Strongylopus bonaespei (Dubois, 1981), banded stream frog, endemic
    • Strongylopus fasciatus (Smith, 1849), striped stream frog, syn. Rana fasciata, endemic
    • Strongylopus grayii (Smith, 1849), Gray's stream frog, endemic
    • Strongylopus springbokensis Channing, 1986, Namaqua stream frog, endemic
    • Strongylopus wageri (Wager, 1961), Wager's stream frog, syn. Rana wageri, endemic

1.12. Ranidae

Family Ranidae

  • Genus Tomopterna:[1]
    • Tomopterna cryptotis (Boulenger, 1907), cryptic sand frog, syn. Rana cryptotis
    • Tomopterna delalandii (Tschudi, 1838), African bullfrog, endemic
    • Tomopterna krugerensis Passmore & Carruthers, 1975, knocking sand frog
    • Tomopterna marmorata (Peters, 1854), marbled sand frog
    • Tomopterna natalensis (Smith, 1849), Natal sand frog, near endemic
    • Tomopterna tandyi Channing & Bogart, 1996, Tandy's sand frog, endemic

1.13. Rhacophoridae

Family Rhacophoridae

  • Genus Chiromantis:[1]
    • Chiromantis xerampelina Peters, 1854, grey tree frog, near endemic

References

  1. "Checklist of South African Chordata, Class Amphibia. Animal checklist website". South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://biodiversityadvisor.sanbi.org/research-and-modelling/checklists-and-encyclopaedia-of-life/south-african-animal-checklist/. 
More
Academic Video Service