Description

A large Leptopelis (males up to 52 mm, females to 63 mm) from south-eastern Africa, with moderately developed digital discs. Reduced webbing between toes, virtually none between fingers. Inner metatarsal tubercle large, more then 80% of length of inner toe. Horizontal diameter of tympanum more than half the diameter of eye. Dorsum brown with a conspicuous 'n' shaped dark dorsal pattern. This pattern is less evident and may be absent in northern specimens. Sometimes a dark patch over the eye. Males with pectoral glands. Juveniles uniform green.

The tadpole is dark and elongated, up to 60 mm (18+42) in length. Tooth formula 1,3+3/3.

In 1985 when Poynton described this species he referred a bewildering array of hitherto mis-identified forms to his new taxon, namely L. johnstoni (Parker 1930), L. concolor (Poynton 1964, Wager 1965), L. cinnamomeus (Poynton 1966, Schiøtz 1975, with reservations), L. lebeaui (Stevens 1974, Schiøtz 1975, with reservations).

This account was taken from "Treefrogs of Africa" by Arne Schiøtz with kind permission from Edition Chimaira publishers, Frankfurt am Main.