Dotted Reed Frog

A large Hyperolius (males 27–35 mm, females 29–37 mm) from the forests of West Africa with a conspicuous dark canthal stripe. Gular flap large. Body very broad and flat. Pupil horizontal. The colour pattern falls into the following phases and morphs:Phase J. Dorsum dull bluish green to yellowish green. A light stripe above the dark canthal stripe continues behind the eye to the groin. Ventral surfaces greenish yellow. The dorsum may have a number of diffuse dark spots and the dorsolateral line may be bordered with black.Phase F. Dorsum dark brown to reddish with round or oblong orange spots. Ventrum greyish white. There are apparently two morphs; sometimes the light spots are large, sometimes they are very small and numerous. Transitions between these morphs are not known. In Cameroun some phase F specimens have a uniform brown to reddish dorsum and black dots on the sides and ventrum.The tadpole has a long tail with spotted margins and a tooth formula of 1/1+1,2.This species shows developmental changes in patterning, with two phases, J (juveniles and many mature males) and F (mature females and some mature males). All newly metamorphosed individuals are phase J, which is normally brownish to green with paired light dorsolateral lines, or an hourglass pattern. All females, and some males, develop into phase F before the first breeding season. Phase F is often colorful and variable, showing the diagnostic color characteristics for the species or subspecies. Either well-defined morphs may be present, or graded variation. This account was taken from "Treefrogs of Africa" by Arne Schiøtz with kind permission from Edition Chimaira (http://www.chimaira.de/) publishers, Frankfurt am Main.

Seems to prefer large swamps in the forest belt. Not observed on many localities, but present in vast numbers at suitable sites. Ranges from Sierra Leone to Cameroun.

The males call from heights of several metres in bushes, often from well concealed positions. The voice is a rapid succession of pure, low-pitched notes with a soft tonal quality. The calls have a well-defined frequency at 2000 cps.The eggs have a dark and light green pole. The jelly is clear. One batch contained 250 eggs.