AmphibiaWeb - Hyperoliidae

Hyperoliidae (see family information on Tree of Life site)

214 species in 18 genera

African Tree Frogs
The family Hyperoliidae consists of 18 genera and over 200 species. The diversity of hyperoliids is restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and several islands. One genus, Heterixalus, is endemic to Madagascar. Another genus, Tachycnemis, is found only in the Seychelles Islands. One of the most basal genera, Kassina (running frogs), is terrestrial, but most remaining genera are arboreal (the vernacular name of the family refers to the sedge and bush frogs). Tadpoles typically inhabit ponds, or possibly slow-moving parts of streams, and usually have large tailfins. Many species exhibit bright colors and striking patterns, which are sexually dimorphic in some species. One example is Hyperolius argus, which has been used to study the effects of estrogen-like compounds on development of reproductive organs and external secondary sex features. Males of nearly all species have a prominent gular pad and compete over calling sites. Acanthixalus may communicate via pheromones rather than typical advertisement calls.
Morphological characters for this group are: 1) nuptial pads absent; 2) posterolateral process of hyoid absent; 3) sternum cartilaginous; 4) dentomentalis muscle present; 5) pupil vertical in most. (account by David Blackburn)

Taxonomy is still unsettled for some groups within Hyperoliidae, particularly the following:
The Hyperolius nasutus group, consisting of H. nasutus, H. acuticeps, H. adspersus, H. igbettensis, H. benguellensis, and possibly H. lamottei and H. viridis. Both species delimitation and nomenclature are under debate. For a brief discussion, see the account for H. acuticeps.
The Hyperolius viridiflavus superspecies, where it is generally accepted that the group consists of several biological species, but where the species delimitation has not been settled. The superspecies is here treated as an entity under the name H. viridiflavus, and the forms which are regarded by some as full species are treated also under their respective names: H. angolensis, H. glandicolor, H. marginatus, H. mariae, H. marmoratus, H. nitidulus, H. pyrrhodichtyon, H. reesi, H. rhodesianus, H. sheldricki, H. swynnertoni, and H. viridiflavus.
The Afrixalus fulvovittatus complex, which probably consists of several cryptic species. In West Africa, the restricted western farmbush form A. fulvovittatus and the widespread savanna form A. vittiger are reasonably well separated. From Cameroun eastwards the taxonomy is unclear, with the names A. vittiger, A. quadrivittatus, and A. brevipalmatus used in recent literature.
The "Eastern Dwarf" Afrixalus are a bewildering group of small, savanna-living forms. The taxonomy used here follows the latest revision, that of Pickersgill (2007). This group consists of Afrixalus aureus, A. crotalus, A. delicatus, A. knysnae, A. morerei, A. septentrionalis, A. spinifrons, and A. stuhlmanni. (account by Arne Schiųtz)

Hyperolius argus
Photo by Robert C. Drewes
(Click for details)

Afrixalus quadrivittatus
Photo by David Blackburn
(Click for details)

Genus Acanthixalus (2 species)

Acanthixalus sonjae English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Acanthixalus spinosus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Genus Afrixalus (31 species)

Afrixalus aureus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus clarkei English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus delicatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus dorsalis English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Afrixalus dorsimaculatus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Afrixalus enseticola English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus equatorialis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus fornasini English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus fulvovittatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus knysnae English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus lacteus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus laevis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus leucostictus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Afrixalus lindholmi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Afrixalus morerei English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus nigeriensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus orophilus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus osorioi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus paradorsalis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus quadrivittatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus schneideri English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Afrixalus septentrionalis English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Afrixalus spinifrons English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus stuhlmanni English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus sylvaticus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus uluguruensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus upembae English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Afrixalus vibekensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Afrixalus vittiger English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Afrixalus weidholzi English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Afrixalus wittei English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Genus Alexteroon (3 species)

Alexteroon hypsiphonus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Alexteroon jynx English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Alexteroon obstetricans English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Genus Arlequinus (1 species)

Arlequinus krebsi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Genus Callixalus (1 species)

Callixalus pictus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video

Genus Chlorolius (1 species)

Chlorolius koehleri English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Genus Chrysobatrachus (1 species)

Chrysobatrachus cupreonitens English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Genus Cryptothylax (2 species)

Cryptothylax greshoffii English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Cryptothylax minutus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video

Genus Heterixalus (11 species)

Heterixalus alboguttatus English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Heterixalus andrakata English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Heterixalus betsileo English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Heterixalus boettgeri English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Heterixalus carbonei English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Heterixalus luteostriatus English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Heterixalus madagascariensis English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Heterixalus punctatus English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Heterixalus rutenbergi English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Heterixalus tricolor English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Heterixalus variabilis English account no non-English account photos sound/video

Genus Hyperolius (134 species)

Hyperolius acuticephalus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius acuticeps English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius acutirostris English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius ademetzi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius adspersus no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius albofrenatus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius alticola English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius angolensis English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius argus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius atrigularis English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius balfouri English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius baumanni English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius benguellensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius bicolor English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius bobirensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius bolifambae English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius bopeleti English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius brachiofasciatus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius camerunensis English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius castaneus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius chabanaudi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius chlorosteus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius chrysogaster English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius cinereus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius cinnamomeoventris English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius concolor English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius cystocandicans English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius diaphanus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius dintelmanni English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius discodactylus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius endjami English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius fasciatus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius ferreirai English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius ferrugineus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius frontalis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius fuscigula English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius fusciventris English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius ghesquieri English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius glandicolor no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius gularis English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius guttulatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius horstockii English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius houyi English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius hutsebauti English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius igbettensis no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius inornatus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius kachalolae English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius kibarae English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius kihangensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius kivuensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius kuligae English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius lamottei English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius langi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius lateralis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius laticeps English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius laurenti English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius leleupi English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius leucotaenius English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius lucani English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius maestus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius major English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius marginatus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius mariae no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius marmoratus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius minutissimus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius mitchelli English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius molleri English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius montanus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius mosaicus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius nasicus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius nasutus English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Hyperolius nienokouensis English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius nimbae English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius nitidulus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius obscurus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius occidentalis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius ocellatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius orkarkarri English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius parallelus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius pardalis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius parkeri English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius phantasticus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius pickersgilli English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius picturatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius pictus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius platyceps English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius polli English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius polystictus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius poweri no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius protchei English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius pseudargus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius puncticulatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius punctulatus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius pusillus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius pustulifer English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius pyrrhodictyon no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius quadratomaculatus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius quinquevittatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius raveni English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius reesi English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius rhizophilus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius rhodesianus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius riggenbachi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius robustus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius sankuruensis English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius schoutedeni English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius seabrai English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius semidiscus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius sheldricki English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius soror English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius spatzi no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius spinigularis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius steindachneri English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius stenodactylus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius substriatus no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius swynnertoni no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius sylvaticus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius tanneri English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius thomensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius thoracotuberculatus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius tornieri English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius torrentis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius tuberculatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius tuberilinguis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius veithi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius vilhenai English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius viridiflavus English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Hyperolius viridigulosus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius viridis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius watsonae no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius wermuthi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Hyperolius xenorhinus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Hyperolius zonatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Genus Kassina (16 species)

Kassina arboricola English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Kassina cassinoides English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Kassina cochranae English account no non-English account no photos sound/video
Kassina decorata English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Kassina fusca English account no non-English account no photos sound/video
Kassina jozani English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Kassina kuvangensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Kassina lamottei English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Kassina maculata English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Kassina maculifer English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Kassina maculosa English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Kassina mertensi English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Kassina schioetzi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Kassina senegalensis English account no non-English account photos sound/video
Kassina somalica English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Kassina wazae English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video

Genus Kassinula (1 species)

Kassinula wittei English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Genus Morerella (1 species)

Morerella cyanophthalma no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video

Genus Opisthothylax (1 species)

Opisthothylax immaculatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Genus Paracassina (2 species)

Paracassina kounhiensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Paracassina obscura English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Genus Phlyctimantis (4 species)

Phlyctimantis boulengeri English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Phlyctimantis keithae English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Phlyctimantis leonardi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Phlyctimantis verrucosus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Genus Semnodactylus (1 species)

Semnodactylus wealii English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Genus Tachycnemis (1 species)

Tachycnemis seychellensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video

Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2012. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: http://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed: 2012).

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