Petropedetidae |
13 species in 3 genera
Commonly Called African Torrent Frogs, Water Frogs, Rocky River Frogss
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Petropedetes vulpiae
Photo by Vaclav Gvozdik
(Click for family gallery)These small to medium compact frogs inhabit the spray zone of streams and waterfalls in Africa. They are known from both lowland and high elevation sites. The known tadpoles of Arthroleptides exhibit specializations for living in the water film of rocks in streams.
Written by AmphibiaWebNotable Family Characteristics
- Found in the spray zone of forest or savannah streams and waterfalls
- Many species appear to be diurnal
- Males of many species appear to be sexually dimorphic, with features such as femoral glands, enlarged forearms, and tympanums ringed with papillae
- Distinct tympanum
- Distribution limited to a small portion of Central Africa and disjunct occurrences in East Africa
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Cartography Credit: Zoe Yoo, UC Berkeley
Range maps sources: AmphibiaWeb, UC Berkeley, and IUCN RedListRelevant Reference
Barej MF, Rodel M-O, Gonwouo LN, Pauwels OSG, Bohme W, Schmitz A. 2010. Review of the genus Petropedetes Reichenow, 1974 in Central Africa with the description of three new species (Amphibia: Anura: Petropedetidae). Zootaxa 2340:1-49
Genus Arthroleptides (3 species)
Arthroleptides dutoiti no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Arthroleptides martiensseni no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Arthroleptides yakusini no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Genus Ericabatrachus (1 species)
Ericabatrachus baleensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Genus Petropedetes (9 species)
Petropedetes cameronensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Petropedetes euskircheni no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Petropedetes johnstoni no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Petropedetes juliawurstnerae no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Petropedetes newtonii no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Petropedetes palmipes no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Petropedetes parkeri no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Petropedetes perreti no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Petropedetes vulpiae no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: https://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed:
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