Mascarene Grass Frog

general

Vences et al. (2004) investigated the molecular phylogeography of this species and suggested that this taxon contains at least five cryptic species.

African Amphibians

morphology

The following is a translation of the original description by Duméril and Bibron (1841) from French by B. Zimkus: Vomerine teeth form two small oblique rows far apart from each other, and touching each of his sides of the lateral edge of the nostrils. Fingers and toes cylindrical, slender, and subarticular tubercles weak. Webbing of the feet does not extend to the toes; fourth toe is a third longer than third and fifth; plantar surface with a single tubercle at the root of the first toe. Upper eyelid completely smooth. Dorsal skin without pustules, but with six or eight longitudinal folds. Tympanum distinct, medium in size. Upper parts gray, red or brown, spotted or not spotted, with or without a dorsal stripe dorsal stripe of a lighter shade.

African Amphibians

growth

The tadpoles take two months to develop into small frogs which take another nine months to become adult size (Text from Measey et al. 2009, © SANBI).

African Amphibians

look_alikes

It is very similar to the Anchieta’s ridged frog but differs in the Taita Hills of Kenya by commonly having a stripe (cream coloured, green or brown) running the length of their back to the tip of their nose (Text from Measey et al. 2009, © SANBI). This species can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the horizontal stripes on the backs of the thighs, the lack of a pale triangle on the snout and the extent of toe webbing (Text from Harper et al., 2010).

African Amphibians