Leptopelis
Encyclopedia
Leptopelis genus
of frog
s found throughout Africa
. They are medium-sized, semiarboreal frogs, with distinctively large eye
s. They vary greatly in color and patterning, but as juveniles tend to be bright green
in color, and as they age they turn to a brown
. There are 49 species
currently recognized, but most are not well understood and their taxonomic
status can vary greatly by source. They have a number of common names, including forest tree frogs, leaf frogs, and big-eyed frogs.
for the exotic pet
trade. They are hardy frogs that adapt well to captivity, and readily consume commercially available cricket
s.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of frog
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 found throughout Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. They are medium-sized, semiarboreal frogs, with distinctively large eye
Eye
Eyes are organs that detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The simplest photoreceptors in conscious vision connect light to movement...
s. They vary greatly in color and patterning, but as juveniles tend to be bright green
Green
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
in color, and as they age they turn to a brown
Brown
Brown is a color term, denoting a range of composite colors produced by a mixture of orange, red, rose, or yellow with black or gray. The term is from Old English brún, in origin for any dusky or dark shade of color....
. There are 49 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
currently recognized, but most are not well understood and their taxonomic
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
status can vary greatly by source. They have a number of common names, including forest tree frogs, leaf frogs, and big-eyed frogs.
Species
- Anchieta’s Tree Frog, Leptopelis anchietaeLeptopelis anchietaeLeptopelis anchietae is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Angola.Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches.-References:...
(Bocage, 1873) - Glade Treefrog, Leptopelis argenteusLeptopelis argenteusLeptopelis argenteus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Tanzania and possibly Mozambique.Its natural habitats are moist savanna, intermittent freshwater marshes, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest.-References:...
(Pfeffer, 1893) - Gaboon Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis aubryiLeptopelis aubryiLeptopelis aubryi is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria....
(DumérilAndré Marie Constant DumérilAndré Marie Constant Duméril was a French zoologist. He was professor of anatomy at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle from 1801 to 1812, when he became professor of herpetology and ichthyology...
, 1856) - Barbour's Treefrog, Leptopelis barbouriLeptopelis barbouriLeptopelis barbouri is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Tanzania.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches.It is threatened by habitat...
(AhlErnst AhlChristoph Gustav Ernst Ahl was a German zoologist.He was the director of the department of ichthyology and herpetology in the Museum für Naturkunde....
, 1929) - Gbanga Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis bequaertiLeptopelis bequaertiLeptopelis bequaerti is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Liberia and possibly Guinea.Its natural habitats are intermittent freshwater marshes....
, (Loveridge, 1941) - Bocage’s Tree Frog, Leptopelis bocagiiLeptopelis bocagiiLeptopelis bocagii is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, possibly Botswana, possibly Central African Republic, possibly Chad, possibly Malawi, possibly...
(GüntherAlbert C. L. G. GüntherAlbert Karl Ludwig Gotthilf Günther FRS, also Albert Charles Lewis Gotthilf Günther , was a German-born British zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist....
, 1865) - Victoria Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis boulengeriLeptopelis boulengeriLeptopelis boulengeri is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, possibly Angola, and possibly Central African Republic....
(Werner, 1898) - Musole Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis brevipesLeptopelis brevipesLeptopelis brevipes is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Equatorial Guinea.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-Source:...
(BoulengerGeorge Albert BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1906) - Cameroon Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis brevirostrisLeptopelis brevirostrisLeptopelis brevirostris is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, possibly the Central African Republic, and possibly the Republic of the Congo....
(Werner, 1898) - Broadley’s Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis broadleyiLeptopelis broadleyiLeptopelis broadleyi is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats are moist savanna, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest.-References:...
, (Poynton, 1985) - Savannah Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis bufonidesLeptopelis bufonidesLeptopelis bufonides is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, possibly Benin, possibly Ivory Coast, possibly Guinea, possibly Guinea-Bissau, possibly Mali, possibly Niger, and possibly Togo.Its natural habitats are...
, (Schiøtz, 1967) - Efulen Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis calcaratusLeptopelis calcaratusLeptopelis calcaratus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, possibly Republic of the Congo, and possibly Uganda....
(BoulengerGeorge Albert BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1906) - Christy's Treefrog, Leptopelis christyiLeptopelis christyiLeptopelis christyi is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Tanzania, Uganda, possibly Burundi, possibly Central African Republic, possibly Republic of the Congo, possibly Kenya, possibly Rwanda, and possibly Sudan.Its...
(BoulengerGeorge Albert BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1912) - Witu Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis concolorLeptopelis concolorLeptopelis concolor is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania.Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, intermittent freshwater marshes, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest....
(AhlErnst AhlChristoph Gustav Ernst Ahl was a German zoologist.He was the director of the department of ichthyology and herpetology in the Museum für Naturkunde....
, 1929) - Angola Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis cynnamomeusLeptopelis cynnamomeusLeptopelis cynnamomeus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia....
(Bocage, 1893) - Zaire Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis fenestratusLeptopelis fenestratusLeptopelis fenestratus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitats are rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches.-Source:...
(Laurent, 1972) - Mokanga Forest Treefrogm Leptopelis fiziensisLeptopelis fiziensisLeptopelis fiziensis is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and possibly Burundi....
(Laurent, 1973) - Brown-backed Tree Frog, Leptopelis flavomaculatusLeptopelis flavomaculatusLeptopelis flavomaculatus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and possibly Zambia....
(GüntherAlbert C. L. G. GüntherAlbert Karl Ludwig Gotthilf Günther FRS, also Albert Charles Lewis Gotthilf Günther , was a German-born British zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist....
, 1864) - Badditu Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis gramineusLeptopelis gramineusLeptopelis gramineus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Ethiopia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist montanes, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland,...
(BoulengerGeorge Albert BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1898) - Congulu Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis jordaniLeptopelis jordaniLeptopelis jordani is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Angola.Its natural habitats are rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches.-Source:* Schiøtz, A. 2004. . Downloaded on 22 July 2007....
(Parker, 1936) - Karissimbi Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis karissimbensisLeptopelis karissimbensisLeptopelis karissimbensis is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda....
(AhlErnst AhlChristoph Gustav Ernst Ahl was a German zoologist.He was the director of the department of ichthyology and herpetology in the Museum für Naturkunde....
, 1929) - Kisenyi Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis kivuensisLeptopelis kivuensisLeptopelis kivuensis is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda....
(AhlErnst AhlChristoph Gustav Ernst Ahl was a German zoologist.He was the director of the department of ichthyology and herpetology in the Museum für Naturkunde....
, 1929) - Nyonga Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis lebeauiLeptopelis lebeauiLeptopelis lebeaui is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitats are rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches.-Source:...
(Witte, 1933) - Leptopelis mackayi Bwong, Schick et al., 2006
- Amani Forest Tree Frog, Leptopelis macrotisLeptopelis macrotisLeptopelis macrotis is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers.It is threatened by habitat loss....
(Schiøtz, 1967)
- Quissange Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis marginatusLeptopelis marginatusLeptopelis marginatus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Angola.Its natural habitats are rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches.-Source:* Schiøtz, A. 2004. . Downloaded on 22 July 2007....
(Bocage, 1895) - Niger Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis millsoniLeptopelis millsoniLeptopelis millsoni is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria....
(BoulengerGeorge Albert BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1895) - Modest Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis modestusLeptopelis modestusLeptopelis modestus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, and possibly Uganda....
(Werner, 1898) - Mossambique Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis mossambicusLeptopelis mossambicusLeptopelis mossambicus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and possibly Botswana....
(Poynton, 1985) - Natal Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis natalensisLeptopelis natalensisThe Natal Forest Treefrog is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to South Africa.-Description:A typical treefrog with large eyes and a broad mouth...
(Smith, 1849) - West Cameroon Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis nordequatorialisLeptopelis nordequatorialisLeptopelis nordequatorialis is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Cameroon and Nigeria.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marches, freshwater springs, and pastureland.-References:*...
(Perret, 1966) - Common Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis notatusLeptopelis notatusLeptopelis notatus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, and possibly Central African Republic....
(Buchholz & PetersWilhelm PetersWilhelm Karl Hartwich Peters was a German naturalist and explorer.He was assistant to Johannes Peter Müller and later curator of the Berlin Zoological Museum. In September 1842 he travelled to Mozambique via Angola. He returned to Berlin with an enormous collection of natural history specimens...
, 1875) - Tai Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis occidentalisLeptopelis occidentalisLeptopelis occidentalis is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Liberia, and possibly Nigeria.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, and intermittent freshwater marshes....
(Schiøtz, 1967) - Ocellated Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis ocellatusLeptopelis ocellatusLeptopelis ocellatus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, possibly Angola, and possibly Central African Republic....
(Mocquard, 1902) - Kala Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis omissusLeptopelis omissusLeptopelis omissus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, possibly Angola, possibly Central African Republic, possibly Democratic Republic of the Congo, and possibly Equatorial Guinea.Its natural habitats are subtropical or...
(Amiet, 1992) - Garamba Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis oryiLeptopelis oryiLeptopelis oryi is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and possibly Sudan....
(Inger, 1968)
- Palm Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis palmatusLeptopelis palmatusLeptopelis palmatus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, urban areas, and heavily degraded former forest.It is...
(PetersWilhelm PetersWilhelm Karl Hartwich Peters was a German naturalist and explorer.He was assistant to Johannes Peter Müller and later curator of the Berlin Zoological Museum. In September 1842 he travelled to Mozambique via Angola. He returned to Berlin with an enormous collection of natural history specimens...
, 1868) - Lake Upemba Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis parbocagiiLeptopelis parbocagiiLeptopelis parbocagii is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are moist savanna, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, intermittent...
(Poynton & Broadley, 1987) - Parker’s Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis parkeriLeptopelis parkeriLeptopelis parkeri is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Tanzania.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montanes, and rivers.It is threatened by habitat loss....
(BarbourThomas BarbourThomas Barbour was an American herpetologist. From 1927 until 1946, he was director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology founded in 1859 by Louis Agassiz at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
& LoveridgeLoveridge-People:*Dave Loveridge , New Zealand rugby player*Greg Loveridge , New Zealand cricketer*Ivan Loveridge Bennett , American physician*John Loveridge , British Conservative MP*Ronald O. Loveridge, American politician...
, 1928) - Kanole Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis parvusLeptopelis parvusLeptopelis parvus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitats are moist savanna, swamps, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches.-Source:...
(Schmidt & Inger, 1959) - Shoa Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis ragazziiLeptopelis ragazziiLeptopelis ragazzii is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Ethiopia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches....
(BoulengerGeorge Albert BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1896) - Red Treefrog, Leptopelis rufusLeptopelis rufusLeptopelis rufus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, possibly Angola, and possibly Central African Republic....
(ReichenowAnton ReichenowAnton Reichenow was a German ornithologist.Reichenow was the son-in-law of Jean Cabanis, and worked at the Humboldt Museum from 1874 to 1921. He was an expert on African birds, making a collecting expedition to West Africa in 1872 and 1873, and writing Die Vögel Afrikas...
, 1874) - Susana’s Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis susanaeLeptopelis susanaeLeptopelis susanae is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Ethiopia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, and heavily degraded former forest.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
(Largen, 1977) - Uluguru Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis uluguruensisLeptopelis uluguruensisLeptopelis uluguruensis is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Tanzania.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, and intermittent freshwater marshes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:*...
(BarbourThomas BarbourThomas Barbour was an American herpetologist. From 1927 until 1946, he was director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology founded in 1859 by Louis Agassiz at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
& LoveridgeLoveridge-People:*Dave Loveridge , New Zealand rugby player*Greg Loveridge , New Zealand cricketer*Ivan Loveridge Bennett , American physician*John Loveridge , British Conservative MP*Ronald O. Loveridge, American politician...
, 1928) - Dime Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis vannutelliiLeptopelis vannutelliiLeptopelis vannutellii is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to Ethiopia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches....
(BoulengerGeorge Albert BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1898) - Big-eyed Tree Frog, Leptopelis vermiculatus (BoulengerGeorge Albert BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1909) - Rusty Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis viridisLeptopelis viridisLeptopelis viridis is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, possibly Central African Republic, possibly...
(GüntherAlbert C. L. G. GüntherAlbert Karl Ludwig Gotthilf Günther FRS, also Albert Charles Lewis Gotthilf Günther , was a German-born British zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist....
, 1869) - Weza Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis xenodactylus (Poynton, 1963)
- Grassland Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis yaldeniLeptopelis yaldeniLeptopelis yaldeni is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family, endemic to Ethiopia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and rivers, and it is threatened by habitat loss.It is named in honour of Derek Yalden....
(Largen, 1977) - Cameroon Forest Treefrog, Leptopelis zebraLeptopelis zebraLeptopelis zebra is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Cameroon, possibly Republic of the Congo, possibly Equatorial Guinea, and possibly Gabon....
(Amiet, 2001)
In captivity
L. vermiculatus is frequently exported from TanzaniaTanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
for the exotic pet
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
trade. They are hardy frogs that adapt well to captivity, and readily consume commercially available cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
s.