Hyperolius glandicolor Peters 1878

A small, very warty Hyperolius from Serengeti, Tanzania. Female 21 mm. Dorsum silvery grey with a white hour-glass pattern. Fingers, toes and ventral surface of hind limbs dark orange, throat and ventrum white. Pupil horizontal.Only one female and two juveniles are known, collected in the dry season.This form is remarkable on account of its very warty dorsum. From its brief snout, chalky white colour and transverse gular fold in females it would appear to be a member of the H. viridiflavus group but it has been collected together with H. v. goetzei. The known female of H. orkarkarri is small and could well be a subadult. It is relevant that for other members of the viridiflavus group (H. v. nitidulus, Rödel 1996), it is known that juveniles and subadults have very granulated skin in the dry season, while adults have smooth skin. Observations in the wet season would be most desirable to see whether this form is different from the sympatric H. v. goetzei.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.

Collected on rocks on an inselberg, Moru Kopjes, surrounded by grassland in Serengeti N. P., Tanzania.

Hyperolius glandicolor is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is known from southern Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. The limits of its distribution, however, are uncertain, and it might also occur in Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, and even eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Common name Peters reed frog has been coined for it.

Hyperolius glandicolor occurs in emergent vegetation at swamp, river, and lake margins in all types of savanna, grassland, and bush land habitats, as well as in many anthropogenic habitats, such as cultivated land, towns, and gardens. It is able to rapidly colonize new bodies of water. Breeding takes usually place in temporary, but often also in permanent ponds, ranging from very small to very large ones. The eggs are deposited directly into the water. No threats to this very common and adaptable species are known. It occurs in many protected areas.