Hyperoliidae

(Hyperoliidae)

Class: Amphibia

Order: Anura

Family: Hyperoliidae

Thumbnail description
Most species are typical treefrogs with webbing and digital discs, and live in trees or on reeds; a few are toadlike and live on and in the ground

Size
From 0.5 in (12 mm) in body length for the smallest adult male (Hyperolius minutissimus) to 4.3 in (110 mm) for the largest female (Leptopelis palmatus)

Number of genera, species
19 genera; 240 species

Habitat
Forest, woodland, and savanna

Conservation status
Vulnerable: 3 species

Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and Seychelles

Evolution and systematics

Hyperoliidae was formerly regarded as part of the family Rhacophoridae, the Asian treefrogs, which are very similar in morphology and ecology. Based on small morphological differences, such as the shape of the metasternum, it was postulated that most of the African and some of the Madagassan members of the Rhacophoridae deserved their own family. Further studies have shown that Rhacophoridae and Hyperoliidae are not closely related, but have developed independently from the true frogs, the Ranidae.

African treefrogs are separated into four subfamilies—Hyperoliinae, Kassininae, Leptopelinae, and Tachycneminae— but the affinity of several of the genera to subfamily is disputed.

Resources

Carruthers, V. C. Frogs and Frogging in Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik, 2001.

Channing, A. Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2001.

Passmore, N. I., and V. C. Carruthers. South African Frogs. Johannesburg: Southern Book & Witwatersrand U. P., 1995.

Rödel, M. O. Herpetofauna of West Africa. I. Amphibians of the West African Savanna. Frankfurt: Chimaira, 2000.

Schiøtz, A. The Treefrogs of Eastern Africa. Copenhagen: Steenstrupia, 1975. ——. Treefrogs of Africa. Frankfurt: Chimaira, 1999.

Stewart, M. Amphibians of Malawi. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1967.

Blommers-Schloesser, R. M. A. "Observations on the Malagasy Frog Genus Heterixalus." Beaufortia 32 (1982): 1–11.

Drewes, R. C. "A Phylogenetic Analysis of the Hyperoliidae." Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Science 139 (1984): 1–70.

Laurent, R. F. "Le genre Afrixalus en Afrique centrale." Annales du Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale 235 (1982): 1–58. ——. "Les genres Crypthothylax, Phlyctimantis et Kassina au Zaire." Annales du Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale 213 (1976): 1–67. ——. "Le genre Leptopelis au Zaire." Annales du Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale 212 (1972): 1–62.

Liem, S. S. "The Morphology, Systematics and Evolution of the Old World Treefrogs." Fieldiana Zoology 57 (1970): 1–145.

Nussbaum, R. A., and Sheng Hai Wu. "Distribution, Variation and Systematics of the Seychelles Tree Frog, Tachycnemis seychellensis." Journal of Zoology, London 236 (1995): 1–14.

Poynton, J. C., and D. G. Broadley. "Amphibia Zambesiaca 3, Rhacorphoridae and Hyperoliidae." Natal Museum Annals 28 (1987): 161–229.

Schiøtz, A. "The Treefrogs of West Africa." Spolia Zoologica Musei Hauniensis 25 (1967): 1–346. ——. "The Superspecies Hyperolius viridiflavus." Videnskabelige Meddelelser Dansk Naturhistorisk Forening 134 (1971): 21–76.

[Article by: Arne Schiøtz, DSc]

Sedge and Bush Frogs
Heterixalus alboguttatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Hyperoliidae
Subfamilies
Hyperoliinae Kassininae Leptopelinae Tachycnemidae

Hyperoliidae is a family of small to medium sized, brightly colored, frogs which contains more than 250 species in 19 genera. Seventeen genera are native to sub-Saharan Africa ^[1]. 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 centimetres (0.59 in) to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) in body length. Many species have smooth, brightly patterned, skin that almost looks enameled.^[2]

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^{[citation needed]}, 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^[2]. Afrixalus builds leaf nests for its eggs, by folding and gluing the edges of the leaves. Tadpoles are pond type larvae with large dorsal fins on the tail.

No fossil hyperoliids are known.

Contents 1 Classification 2 Links to Species 3 References 4 External links

Classification

Family HYPEROLIIDAE

• Subfamily Hyperoliinae
  • Genus Acanthixalus - African wart frogs
  • Genus Alexteroon - Midwife frogs
  • Genus Arlequinus - Mebebque frogs
  • Genus Callixalus - African painted frogs
  • Genus Chlorolius - Koehler's green frogs
  • Genus Chrysobatrachus - Itombwe golden frogs
  • Genus Cryptothylax - Wax frogs
  • Genus Heterixalus - Madagascan reed frogs
  • Genus Hyperolius - African reed frogs
  • Genus Nesionixalus
• Subfamily Kassininae
  • Genus Afrixalus - Banana frogs
  • Genus Kassina - Running frogs
  • Genus Kassinula - Clicking frogs
  • Genus Opisthothylax - Grey-eyed frogs
  • Genus Paracassina - Common striped frogs
  • Genus Phlyctimantis - African striped frogs
  • Genus Semnodactylus - Weal's frogs
  • Genus Tornierella
• Subfamily Leptopelinae
  • Genus Leptopelis
• Subfamily Tachycneminae
  • Genus Tachycnemis - Seychelles Islands frogs

Links to Species

• Hyperolius argus - Argus Reed Frog, African Reed Frog
• Leptopelis vermiculatus - Big-Eyed Tree Frog

References

1. ^ Shiotz, 1999
2. ^ ^{a b} Zweifel, Robert G. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 100–101. ISBN 0-12-178560-2. 

Schiotz, A. 1999. Treefrogs of Africa. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, ISBN 3-930612-24-0

External links

• African Tree Frogs Herpetology (images)
• Hyperoliidae information

v • d • e Extant anuran families by suborder Kingdom Animalia · Phylum Chordata · Subphylum Craniata · Superclass Tetrapoda · Class Amphibia Archaeobatrachia Ascaphidae · Bombinatoridae · Discoglossidae · Leiopelmatidae Mesobatrachia Megophryidae · Pelobatidae · Pelodytidae · Pipidae · Scaphiopodidae · Rhinophrynidae Neobatrachia Amphignathodontidae · Aromobatidae · Arthroleptidae · Brachycephalidae · Bufonidae · Centrolenidae · Dendrobatidae · Heleophrynidae · Hemisotidae · Hylidae · Hyperoliidae · Leptodactylidae · Mantellidae · Microhylidae · Myobatrachidae · Petropedetidae · Ranidae · Rhacophoridae · Rhinodermatidae · Sooglossidae

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