Spotted Reed Frog

A medium-sized Hyperolius (males 21-29 mm, females 30-37 mm). Voice consists of rather atonal clicks. Pattern very variable, but often with yellow dorsum with conspicuous irregular light black-lined canthal and dorsolateral stripes. No white spot on heel. The males have a medium-sized gular flap. Dorsum in males densely beset with very fine asperities, females smooth. Pupil horizontal.This species shows developmental changes in patterning, with two phases, J (juveniles and many mature males) and F (mature females and some mature males). All newly metamorphosed individuals are phase J, which is normally brownish to green with paired light dorsolateral lines, or an hourglass pattern. All females, and some males, develop into phase F before the first breeding season. Phase F is often colorful and variable, showing the diagnostic color characteristics for the species or subspecies. Either well-defined morphs may be present, or graded variation. 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.

Occurs on the western half of the island of Zanzibar (Tanzania) (Pickersgill 2007).

The call is a slow series of brief, rather atonal clicks with a frequency-intensity maximum at about 2500-3000 cps.

Hyperolius puncticulatus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to Unguja (=Zanzibar), Tanzania. Its natural habitats are dry forest, moist forest, and bush land. It breeds in pools, and males can be heard calling from the surrounding vegetation. Although quite common species within its small range, it is considered endangered by the IUCN because of habitat loss.