Frogging at Aylestone Portion 8

My grandmother used to tell us that we will get warts if a frog urinates on our hands. That didn’t deter us from catching frogs, and we didn’t get warts at all.  Something that I remember as a child was hundreds of baby frogs hopping around after good rain.  If only I could experience that once again… Not only for the experience itself but to identify the species.

My childhood experience of frogs is basically restricted to Red Toads and Platanas.

The only time ever that I have seen a Giant bullfrog, was in an irrigation canal on my way home from the bus stop.  The cement canals have fall structures to help the water flow.   A canal fall or drop is an irrigation structure constructed across a canal to lower down its bed level to maintain the designed slope when there is a change of ground level to maintain the designed slope when there is change of ground level.

The bullfrog was caught in the whirlpool at the bottom of the fall structure and couldn’t escape. I can still recall the flashing images of yellow and green when the frog appeared and disappeared under the water. Me and the neighbours son ran home to fetch something to scoop the frog out. We thought it was dead, but it was alive. My mum was not impressed by the damage in the butterfly net she made for us, but understood our good intentions.  The frog buried into the soil and remained in her rose garden for more than a week  before it disappeared.

My mum was the one who lit the flame of curiosity in all her children… When we bought a portion of the farm Aylestone in Barberton, my curiosity exploded with the abundance of life. I love frogs and have accumulated hundreds of photos over the years.

Below is an account of all the frog species I have found so far on Aylestone 8. Only one or two photos are used here that is representative of the species.

Frogs are very variable  Please click on the family name to see more photos, information and links to my videos of their behavior.

FAMILY BUFONIDAE

Schismaderma carens, Red Toad (Rooiskurwepadda)

Sclerophrys gutturalis, Guttural Toad  (Gorrelskurwepadda)

FAMILY HYPEROLIIDAE

Hyperolius marmoratus taeniatus, Painted Reed Frog (Skilderbontrietpadda)

Hyperolius pusillus, Water Lily Frog (Waterleliepadda)

Hyperolius tuberilinguis, Tinker Reed Frog (Groenrietpadda)

Kassina senegalensis, Bubbling Kassina (Borrelvleipadda)

FAMILY MICROHYLIDAE

Phrynomantis affinis, Banded Rubber Frog (Gebande rubberpadda)

FAMILY PHRYNOBATRACHIDAE

Phrynobatrachus natalensis, Snoring Puddle Frog (Snorkmodderpadda)

FAMILY PTYCHADENIDAE

Ptychadena anchietae, Plain Grass Frog (Rooiruggraspadda)

FAMILY PIPIDAE

Xenopus laevis, Common platanna (Gewone platanna)

Xenopus muelleri, Muller’s Platanna (Geelpensplatanna)

FAMILY PYXICEPHALIDAE

Amieta delalandii, Common River Frog (Gewone rivierpadda)

Tomopterna natalensis, Natal Sand Frog (Natalse sandpadda)

FAMILY RHACOPHORIDAE

Chiromantis xerampelina, Southern Foam Nest Frog (Grootgrysskuimnespadda)

I have spent many evenings outside with my torch and cell phone to capture the information above.  Unfortunately, it is not safe anymore to go frogging on my own. Our neighbor farms with crocodiles, and they escape to our dam. There are daytime photos, but those are in the minority. Scientific information comes from the sources mentioned below. The book by Louis du Preez and Vincent Carruthers is a MUST if you are interested in frogs.

For more information:

1. Frogs Of Southern Africa, A Complete Guide, Louis du Preez & Vincent Carruthers. Struik Nature 2017

FAMILY HYPEROLIIDAE – Reed frogs

Hyperolius marmoratus taeniatus

Hyperolius pusillus

Hyperolius tuberilinguis

Kassina senegalensis

For the Waterlily and Painted reedfrogs, I have to don my rubber boots to get to them in the dam. Our neighbors farm with crocodiles, and we often have escapees. This means I have to scout first during the day to check if I see any flat dogs, and then my husband must accompany me at night to make sure my toe nails don’t get knibbled off.

I have found quite a few painted Reed frogs far away from water while eradicating pom-pom weed and once in a tree while harvesting macadamia nuts.

The colour pattern of these frogs are so different that I sometimes doubt the identification, but when I take out my book and read the key identification points, then it is just the same species.

Hyperolius marmoratus taeniatus, Painted Reed Frog (Skilderbontrietpadda)

When I found it, the colour was dull

The colours became more vivid after trying to escape from the attention of the paparazzi

I found this beauty while harvesting macadamia nuts

The mating calls of Hyperolius marmoratus taeniatus can create quite a chorus. The subgular sac has a covering disk to protect the disk when the frog is at rest.

Many frogs camouflage themselves by adjusting their colour or to regulate temperature. The photos below illustrate the use of regulating the chromatophores to adapt to the environment.

When found in high temperatures,  the frogs are usually white when the chromatophores are withdrawn into a small zone of the cell. Then barely any pigment is evident..

Note the orange spots

This one was very comfortable in the same spot for a few days

Yellow stripe dominant with the darker colour in between shining through

A flower just for you, with compliments from this cute little Painted reed frog

Hyperolius marmoratus taeniatus juveniles

Hyperolius pusillus, Water Lily Frog (Waterleliepadda)

It is not an easy feat to find these small froggies. Once you see one, and you focus, then it becomes easier.

More information can be read in a prior blog post about finding this small fairy frog for the first time. They are very small, with a maximum size of 25 mm.

It has a paired subgular sac and the twin lobes only expand at the moment of the call. In the video the sounds of Painted Reed Frogs and Red Banded Rubber Frogs can also be heard.

The call of Hyperolius pusillus is a series of blurred, high-pitched chick-chick clicks. One has to listen very carefully to distinguish the sound. The Banded Rubber Frogs and Painted Reed Frog’s calls are quite overwhelming in the video above.

Hyperolius tuberilinguis, Tinker Reed Frog (Groenrietpadda)

I have only found this species once, the one in the photos below. Maximum size is 36 mm.

Kassina senegalensis, Bubbling Kassina (Borrelvleipadda)

Because they start calling from concealed sites well away from water, it is sometimes difficult to find them.

This individual was sitting on the same spot, calling from sunset to late night, for weeks.

Amplexus *

It seems as if the whole body inflates when the frog calls. The grey-brown gular discs of males are laterally oval.

The mating call of Kassina senegalensis is a ‘plop’ sound, almost as if a giant water drop is falling.

TERMINOLOGY:

Amplexus is a term used to define mating in frogs. It is a reproductive position used by frogs to replicate externally. The male frog will clasp the female from the back, stimulating the release of eggs. After the egg has been released, the male frog fertilizes each egg with the sperm cells.

Tympanum: The tympanic membrane is a thin membrane that separates the frog’s outer and inner ear. It is located behind the eyes. It allows it to hear both in the air and below the water.

Please contact me should you find a species that I have misidentified.

For more information:

1. Frogs Of Southern Africa, A Complete Guide, Louis du Preez & Vincent Carruthers. Struik Nature 2017