Hyperoliidae (see family information on Tree of Life site)
African Tree Frogs The family Hyperoliidae consists of 17 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 Schiøtz)
Hyperolius argus
Photo by Robert C. Drewes
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Afrixalus quadrivittatus
Photo by David Blackburn
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Genus Acanthixalus (2 species)
Acanthixalus sonjae species account no photos no range maps no sounds Acanthixalus spinosus species account photos range maps no sounds
Genus Afrixalus (31 species)
Genus Alexteroon (3 species)
Alexteroon hypsiphonus species account no photos no range maps no sounds Alexteroon jynx species account no photos no range maps no sounds Alexteroon obstetricans species account photos range maps no sounds
Genus Arlequinus (1 species)
Arlequinus krebsi species account photos range maps no sounds
Genus Callixalus (1 species)
Callixalus pictus species account no photos range maps no sounds
Genus Chlorolius (1 species)
Chlorolius koehleri species account photos range maps no sounds
Genus Chrysobatrachus (1 species)
Chrysobatrachus cupreonitens species account no photos range maps no sounds
Genus Cryptothylax (2 species)
Cryptothylax greshoffii species account photos range maps no sounds Cryptothylax minutus species account no photos no range maps no sounds
Genus Heterixalus (11 species)
Genus Hyperolius (130 species)
Genus Kassina (16 species)
Kassina arboricola species account photos range maps no sounds Kassina cassinoides species account photos range maps sounds Kassina cochranae species account no photos range maps sounds Kassina decorata species account photos range maps no sounds Kassina fusca species account no photos range maps sounds Kassina jozani species account no photos no range maps no sounds Kassina kuvangensis species account photos range maps no sounds Kassina lamottei species account photos range maps no sounds Kassina maculata species account photos range maps no sounds Kassina maculifer species account photos range maps no sounds Kassina maculosa species account photos range maps no sounds Kassina mertensi species account no photos range maps no sounds Kassina schioetzi species account photos range maps no sounds Kassina senegalensis species account photos range maps sounds Kassina somalica species account photos no range maps no sounds Kassina wazae species account no photos no range maps no sounds
Genus Kassinula (1 species)
Kassinula wittei species account photos range maps no sounds
Genus Morerella (1 species)
Morerella cyanophthalma no species account no photos no range maps no sounds
Genus Opisthothylax (1 species)
Opisthothylax immaculatus species account photos range maps no sounds
Genus Paracassina (2 species)
Paracassina kounhiensis species account photos range maps no sounds Paracassina obscura species account photos range maps no sounds
Genus Phlyctimantis (4 species)
Phlyctimantis boulengeri species account photos range maps no sounds Phlyctimantis keithae species account photos range maps no sounds Phlyctimantis leonardi species account photos range maps no sounds Phlyctimantis verrucosus species account photos range maps no sounds
Genus Semnodactylus (1 species)
Semnodactylus wealii species account no photos range maps no sounds
Genus Tachycnemis (1 species)
Tachycnemis seychellensis species account photos no range maps no sounds
Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2009. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: http://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed: 2009).
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