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
Aylestone 8 