Hyperoliidae
Encyclopedia
Hyperoliidae is a family of small to medium sized, brightly colored, frog
s which contains more than 250 species in 19 genera. Seventeen genera are native to sub-Saharan Africa. In addition,the monotypic
genus Tachycnemis occurs on the Seychelles Islands, and the genus Heterixalus
(currently 10 species) is endemic to Madagascar
.
Hyperoliids range from 1.5 centimetre (0.590551181102362 in) to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) in body length. Many species have smooth, brightly patterned, skin that almost looks enameled.
Most Hyperoliids are arboreal, but some are terrestrial, including several Kassina
species that move by walking or running rather than hopping. Diet varies widely, with examples including Tornierella, who specialize on snails, and Afrixalus fornasinii, the only terrestrial frog known to prey on eggs of other species of anurans.
Breeding in this family begins at the start of the rainy season where Hyperoliids congregate at breeding sites. Most hyperoliids lay their eggs in water, although foam nesting, tree hole breeding, and laying of eggs in vegetation above water are all known behaviors. Afrixalus
builds leaf nests for its eggs, by folding and gluing the edges of the leaves. Tadpole
s are pond type larvae with large dorsal fins on the tail.
No fossil hyperoliids are known.
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s which contains more than 250 species in 19 genera. Seventeen genera are native to sub-Saharan Africa. In addition,the monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
genus Tachycnemis occurs on the Seychelles Islands, and the genus Heterixalus
Heterixalus
Heterixalus is a genus of frog in the Hyperoliidae family. All of its species are endemic to Madagascar.It contains the following species:* Heterixalus alboguttatus* Heterixalus andrakata* Heterixalus betsileo* Heterixalus boettgeri...
(currently 10 species) is endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
.
Hyperoliids range from 1.5 centimetre (0.590551181102362 in) to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) in body length. Many species have smooth, brightly patterned, skin that almost looks enameled.
Most Hyperoliids are arboreal, but some are terrestrial, including several Kassina
Kassina
Kassina are a genus of hyperoliid frogs, commonly referred to as running frogs. They are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They are characterized by preferring a distinctive "walking" with the back legs instead of the more traditional frog hopping .-Species:There are 14 recognized species in the...
species that move by walking or running rather than hopping. Diet varies widely, with examples including Tornierella, who specialize on snails, and Afrixalus fornasinii, the only terrestrial frog known to prey on eggs of other species of anurans.
Breeding in this family begins at the start of the rainy season where Hyperoliids congregate at breeding sites. Most hyperoliids lay their eggs in water, although foam nesting, tree hole breeding, and laying of eggs in vegetation above water are all known behaviors. Afrixalus
Afrixalus
Afrixalus is a genus of frog in the Hyperoliidae family. There are about 30 species.Species include:* Afrixalus aureus - golden banana frog* Afrixalus brachycnemis - lesser banana frog* Afrixalus clarkeorum - Clarke's banana frog...
builds leaf nests for its eggs, by folding and gluing the edges of the leaves. Tadpole
Tadpole
A tadpole or polliwog is the wholly aquatic larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog or toad.- Appellation :...
s are pond type larvae with large dorsal fins on the tail.
No fossil hyperoliids are known.
Classification
Family HYPEROLIIDAE- Subfamily Hyperoliinae
- Genus AcanthixalusAcanthixalusAcanthixalus is a genus of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It contains the following species:* Acanthixalus sonjae* Acanthixalus spinosus...
- African wart frogs - Genus AlexteroonAlexteroonAlexteroon is a genus of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It contains the following species:* Alexteroon hypsiphonus* Alexteroon jynx* Alexteroon obstetricans...
- Midwife frogs - Genus Arlequinus - Mebebque frogs
- Genus Callixalus - African painted frogs
- Genus Chlorolius - Koehler's green frogs
- Genus Chrysobatrachus - Itombwe golden frogs
- Genus CryptothylaxCryptothylaxCryptothylax is a small genus of Hyperoliid frogs.-Species:* Cryptothylax greshoffii .* Cryptothylax minutus Laurent, 1976....
- Wax frogs - Genus HeterixalusHeterixalusHeterixalus is a genus of frog in the Hyperoliidae family. All of its species are endemic to Madagascar.It contains the following species:* Heterixalus alboguttatus* Heterixalus andrakata* Heterixalus betsileo* Heterixalus boettgeri...
- Madagascan reed frogs - Genus HyperoliusHyperoliusHyperolius is a large genus of frog in the Hyperoliidae family. It has 129 species, however new members are still being discovered.It contains the following species:* Hyperolius acuticephalus* Hyperolius acuticeps* Hyperolius acutirostris...
- African reed frogs - Genus Nesionixalus
- Genus Acanthixalus
- Subfamily Kassininae
- Genus AfrixalusAfrixalusAfrixalus is a genus of frog in the Hyperoliidae family. There are about 30 species.Species include:* Afrixalus aureus - golden banana frog* Afrixalus brachycnemis - lesser banana frog* Afrixalus clarkeorum - Clarke's banana frog...
- Banana frogs - Genus KassinaKassinaKassina are a genus of hyperoliid frogs, commonly referred to as running frogs. They are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They are characterized by preferring a distinctive "walking" with the back legs instead of the more traditional frog hopping .-Species:There are 14 recognized species in the...
- Running frogs - Genus Kassinula - Clicking frogs
- Genus Opisthothylax - Grey-eyed frogs
- Genus ParacassinaParacassinaParacassina is a genus of Ethiopian frog in the family Hyperoliidae.It contains the following species:* Paracassina kounhiensis* Paracassina obscura...
- Common striped frogs - Genus PhlyctimantisPhlyctimantisPhlyctimantis is a genus of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It contains the following species:* Phlyctimantis boulengeri* Phlyctimantis keithae* Phlyctimantis leonardi* Phlyctimantis verrucosus...
- African striped frogs - Genus Semnodactylus - Weal's frogs
- Genus Tornierella
- Genus Afrixalus
- Subfamily Tachycneminae
- Genus Tachycnemis - Seychelles Islands frogs
Links to Species
- Hyperolius argusHyperolius argusThe Argus Reed Frog or African Reed Frog . It is found in Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is one of only five species of frogs in which males and females do not share the same coloring. Males are usually green colored, and Females usually Reddish with...
- Argus Reed Frog, African Reed Frog - Leptopelis vermiculatus - Big-Eyed Tree Frog