From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Amphibians are
ectothermic ,
anamniotic ,
four-limbed
vertebrate
animals that constitute the
class Amphibia . In its broadest sense, it is a
paraphyletic group encompassing all
tetrapods , excluding the
amniotes (tetrapods with an
amniotic membrane , such as modern
reptiles ,
birds , and
mammals ). All
extant (living) amphibians belong to the
monophyletic
subclass
Lissamphibia , with three living
orders : Anura (
frogs ), Urodela (
salamanders ), and Gymnophiona (
caecilians ). Evolved to be mostly
semiaquatic , amphibians have adapted to inhabit a wide variety of
habitats , with most species living in
freshwater ,
wetland or
terrestrial ecosystems (such as
riparian woodland ,
fossorial and even
arboreal habitats). Their
life cycle typically starts out as
aquatic
larvae with
gills known as
tadpoles , but some species have developed behavioural adaptations to bypass this.
The young generally undergo
metamorphosis from larva with gills to an adult air-breathing form with
lungs . Amphibians use their skin as a secondary respiratory surface and some small terrestrial
salamanders and frogs lack lungs and rely entirely on their skin. They are superficially similar to
reptiles like
lizards , but unlike reptiles and other
amniotes , require water bodies in which to breed. With their complex reproductive needs and permeable skins, amphibians are often
ecological indicators ; in recent decades there has been a dramatic
decline in amphibian populations for many species around the globe.
The earliest amphibians
evolved in the
Devonian period from
sarcopterygian fish with lungs and bony-limbed fins, features that were helpful in adapting to dry land. They diversified and became ecologically dominant during the
Carboniferous and
Permian periods, but were later displaced in terrestrial environments by early reptiles and
basal
synapsids (mammal predecessors). The origin of modern amphibians belonging to Lissamphibia, which first appeared during the Early Triassic, around 250 million years ago, has long been contentious. However the emerging consensus is that they likely originated from
temnospondyls , the most diverse group of prehistoric amphibians, during the Permian period.
A fourth group of lissamphibians, the
Albanerpetontidae , became extinct around 2 million years ago. The number of known amphibian species is approximately 8,000, of which nearly 90% are frogs. The smallest amphibian (and vertebrate) in the world is a frog from
New Guinea (
Paedophryne amauensis ) with a length of just 7.7 mm (0.30 in). The largest living amphibian is the 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
South China giant salamander (Andrias sligoi ), but this is dwarfed by prehistoric temnospondyls such as
Mastodonsaurus which could reach up to 6 m (20 ft) in length. The study of amphibians is called
batrachology , while the study of both reptiles and amphibians is called
herpetology . (
Full article... )
Where common names are given, they are not the only common names in use for the species.
Anura
Order
Anura – frogs and toads
Arthroleptidae
Family
Arthroleptidae
Genus
Arthroleptis :
[1]
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
Brevicipitidae
Family
Brevicipitidae
Genus
Breviceps :
[1]
Breviceps acutirostris Poynton, 1963, strawberry rain frog, endemic
Breviceps adspersus Peters, 1882, Transvaal short-headed frog, endemic
Breviceps 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 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
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]
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]
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
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
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
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]
Genus
Semnodactylus :
[1]
Microhylidae
Family
Microhylidae
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
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
Ptychadenidae
Family
Ptychadenidae
Genus
Hildebrandtia :
[1]
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
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]
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]
Genus
Natalobatrachus :
[1]
Genus
Poyntonia :
[1]
Genus
Pyxicephalus :
[1]
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
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
Rhacophoridae
Family
Rhacophoridae
Notes
References
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