List of amphibians of South Africa

This list of amphibians of South Africa contains species that form a part of the class Amphibia (phylum Chordata) fauna of South Africa. The list follows the South African National Bioinformatics Institute listing.

Where common names are given, they are not the only common names in use for the species.

Anura Order Anura – frogs and toads

Arthroleptidae Family Arthroleptidae Genus Arthroleptis: Arthroleptis stenodactylus Pfeffer, 1893, savannah squeaking frog, endemic to Africa Arthroleptis wahlbergii Smith, 1849, bush squeaker, syn. Arthroleptis wageri, endemic Genus Leptopelis: Leptopelis bocagi (Günther, 1865), endemic to Africa Leptopelis mossambicus Poynton, 1985, Mozambique tree frog, endemic Leptopelis natalensis (Smith, 1849), Natal tree frog, Hylambates (Leptopelis) natalensis, endemic Leptopelis xenodactylus Poynton, 1963, long-toed tree frog, Leptopelis natalensis (Smith, 1849), endemic

Brevicipitidae Family Brevicipitidae

Genus Breviceps: Breviceps acutirostris Poynton, 1963, strawberry rain frog, endemic Breviceps adspersus Peters, 1882, Transvaal short-headed frog, endemic Breviceps pentheri Werner, 1899, endemic Breviceps bagginsi Minter, 2003, Bilbo's rain frog, endemic Breviceps fuscus Hewitt, 1925, black rain frog, endemic Breviceps gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758), Cape rain frog, endemic Breviceps macrops Boulenger, 1907, Boulenger's short-headed frog, endemic Breviceps montanus Power, 1926, mountain rain frog, endemic Breviceps mossambicus Peters, 1854, flat-face frog, endemic Breviceps namaquensis Power, 1926, Namaqua rain frog, endemic Breviceps rosei Power, 1926, Rose's rain frog, endemic Breviceps rosei vansoni FitzSimons, 1946, endemic Breviceps sopranus Minter, 2003, whistling rain frog, endemic Breviceps sylvestris FitzSimons, 1930, forest rain frog, endemic Breviceps sylvestris taeniatus Poynton, 1963, endemic Breviceps verrucosus Rapp, 1842, plaintive rain frog, endemic

Bufonidae Family Bufonidae Genus Amietophrynus: Amietophrynus garmani (Meek, 1897), Garman's toad, syn. Bufo garmani Meek, 1897, endemic to Africa Amietophrynus gutturalis (Power, 1927), guttural toad, syn. Bufo gutturalis Power, 1927, endemic to Africa Amietophrynus maculatus (Hallowell, 1854), flat-backed toad, syn. Bufo maculatus Hallowell, 1854, endemic to Africa Amietophrynus pantherinus (Smith, 1828), western leopard toad, syn. Bufo cruciger Schmidt, 1846, Bufo pantherinus Smith, 1828, endemic Amietophrynus pardalis (Hewitt, 1935), eastern leopard toad, syn. Bufo pardalis Hewitt, 1935, Bufo regularis pardalis Hewitt, 1935, endemic Amietophrynus poweri (Hewitt, 1935), Kimberley toad, syn. Bufo regularis poweri Hewitt, 1935, Bufo poweri Hewitt, 1935, endemic Amietophrynus rangeri (Hewitt, 1935), Kei Road toad, syn. Bufo regularis rangeri Hewitt, 1935, Bufo rangeri Hewitt, 1935, endemic Genus Capensibufo: Capensibufo rosei (Hewitt, 1926), Cape mountain toad, syn. Bufo rosei, endemic in South Africa Capensibufo tradouwi (Hewitt, 1926), Tradouw's mountain toad, syn. Bufo tradouwi, endemic Genus Poyntonophrynus: Poyntonophrynus fenoulheti (Hewitt & Methuen, 1912), Transvaal dwarf toad, syn. Bufo fenoulheti Hewitt and Methuen, 1912, endemic to Africa Poyntonophrynus vertebralis (Smith, 1848), African dwarf toad, syn. Bufo vertebralis Smith, 1848, endemic Genus Schismaderma: Schismaderma carens (Smith, 1848), red toad, syn. Bufo carens, Schismaderma lateralis, endemic Genus Vandijkophrynus: Vandijkophrynus amatolicus (Hewitt, 1925), Amatola toad, syn. Bufo amatolicus Hewitt, 1925 |Bufo angusticeps amatolica Hewitt, 1925, endemic Vandijkophrynus angusticeps (Smith, 1848), sand toad, syn. Bufo angusticeps Smith, 1848, endemic Vandijkophrynus gariepensis (Smith, 1848), karroo toad, syn. Bufo gariepensis Smith, 1848, endemic in Southern Africa Vandijkophrynus gariepensis gariepensis (Smith, 1848), endemic Vandijkophrynus gariepensis nubicolus Hewitt, 1927, endemic Vandijkophrynus robinsoni (Branch & Braack, 1996), paradise toad, syn. Bufo robinsoni Branch and Braack, 1996, endemic in Southern Africa

Heleophrynidae Family Heleophrynidae Genus Hadromophryne: Hadromophryne natalensis (Hewitt, 1913), Natal ghost frog, syn. Heleophryne sylvestris, Heleophryne natalensis Hewitt, 1913, endemic in Southern Africa Genus Heleophryne: Heleophryne depressa FritzSimons, 1946, endemic Heleophryne hewitti Boycott, 1988, Hewitt's ghost frog, endemic Heleophryne orientalis FitzSimons, 1946, eastern ghost frog, syn. Heleophryne purcelli orientalis, endemic Heleophryne purcelli Sclater, 1898, Purcell's African ghost frog, syn. Heleophryne purcelli purcelli, endemic Heleophryne regis Hewitt, 1910, southern ghost frog, syn. Heleophryne purcelli regis, endemic Heleophryne rosei Hewitt, 1925, Rose's ghost frog, endemic

Hemisotidae Family Hemisotidae Genus Hemisus: Hemisus guineensis Cope, 1865, Guinea snout-burrower, syn. Engystoma vermiculatum, Hemisus marmoratum guineensis, endemic Hemisus guttatus (Rapp, 1842), spotted burrowing frog, syn. Engystoma guttatus, endemic Hemisus marmoratus (Peters, 1854), marbled snout-burrower, endemic

Hyperoliidae Family Hyperoliidae Genus Afrixalus: Afrixalus aureus Pickersgill, 1984, golden spiny reed frog, syn. Afrixalus aureus aureus Pickersgill, 1984, Afrixalus aureus crotalus Pickersgill, 1984, Afrixalus crotalus Pickersgill, 1984, endemic Afrixalus delicatus Pickersgill, 1984, delicate spiny reed frog, endemic Afrixalus fornasini (Bianconi, 1849), Fornasini's spiny reed frog, syn. Afrixalus fornasinii, endemic Afrixalus knysnae (Loveridge, 1954), Knysna spiny reed frog, syn. Hyperolius knysnae, endemic Afrixalus spinifrons (Cope, 1862), Natal spiny reed frog, endemic Genus Hyperolius: Hyperolius acuticeps Ahl, 1931, sharp-nosed reed frog, syn. Hyperolius poweri Loveridge, 1938, endemic Hyperolius argus Peters, 1854, yellow spotted reed frog, syn. Rappia argus, endemic Hyperolius horstockii (Schlegel, 1837), Horstock's reed frog, syn. Eucnemis horstokii, Hyla horstockii, Rappia horstockii, endemic Hyperolius marmoratus Rapp, 1842, painted reed frog, endemic Hyperolius nasutus Günther, 1865, long reed frog, endemic Hyperolius pickersgilli Raw, 1982, Pickersgill's reed frog, endemic Hyperolius poweri Loveridge, 1938, Power's reed frog, endemic Hyperolius pusillus (Cope, 1862), water lily reed frog, syn. Crumenifera pusilla, Rappia pusilla, endemic Hyperolius semidiscus Hewitt, 1927, yellow-striped reed frog, endemic Hyperolius tuberilinguis Smith, 1849, tinker reed frog, syn. Hyperolius tuberilinguis, Rappia tuberilinguis, endemic Genus Kassina: Kassina maculata (Duméril, 1853), red-legged kassina, syn. Hylambates maculatus, endemic Kassina senegalensis (Duméril & Bibron, 1841), Senegal running frog, endemic Genus Semnodactylus: Semnodactylus wealii (Boulenger, 1882), Weale's running frog, syn. Cassina wealii, endemic

Microhylidae Family Microhylidae Genus Phrynomantis: Phrynomantis annectens Werner, 1910, red-spotted Namibia frog, syn. Phrynomerus annectens, endemic Phrynomantis bifasciatus (Smith, 1847), South African snake-necked frog, syn. Phrynomerus bifasciatus, endemic

Phrynobatrachidae Family Phrynobatrachidae Genus Phrynobatrachus: Phrynobatrachus acridoides (Cope, 1867), Zanzibar puddle frog, endemic to Africa Phrynobatrachus mababiensis FitzSimons, 1932, Mababe river frog, syn. Phrynobatrachus vanrooyeni, endemic Phrynobatrachus natalensis (Smith, 1849), Natal puddle frog, syn. Stenorhynchus natalensis Smith, 1849, endemic

Pipidae Family Pipidae Genus Xenopus: Xenopus gilli Rose & Hewitt, 1927, Cape clawed toad, syn. Xenopus laevis gilli, Xenopus gilli Rose and Hewitt, 1927, endemic Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1802), African clawed frog, syn. Bufo laevis, endemic Xenopus muelleri (Peters, 1844), Muller's clawed frog, syn. Dactylethra muelleri, endemic

Ptychadenidae Family Ptychadenidae Genus Hildebrandtia: Hildebrandtia ornata (Peters, 1878), ornate frog, endemic Genus Ptychadena: Ptychadena anchietae (Bocage, 1868), savannah ridged frog, syn. Rana anchietae Bocage, 1868, endemic to Africa Ptychadena mascareniensis (Duméril & Bibron, 1841), Mascarene ridged frog, syn. Rana mascareniensis, endemic Ptychadena mossambica (Peters, 1854), Mozambique ridged frog, syn. Rana mossambica, endemic Ptychadena oxyrhynchus (Smith, 1849), sharp-nosed ridged frog, syn. Rana oxyrhynchus endemic Ptychadena porosissima (Steindachner, 1867), three-striped grass frog, syn. Rana porosissima, endemic Ptychadena pumilio (Boulenger, 1920), Medine grassland frog, endemic to Africa Ptychadena schillukorum (Werner, 1908), Sudan ridged frog, endemic to Africa Ptychadena taenioscelis Laurent, 1954, small ridged frog, endemic to Africa Ptychadena uzungwensis (Loveridge, 1932), Uzungwe grassland frog, syn. Rana mascareniensis uzungwensis, endemic

Pyxicephalidae Family Pyxicephalidae Genus Amietia: Amietia angolensis (Bocage, 1866), Angola river frog, syn. Afrana angolensis (Bocage, 1866), syn. Rana angolensis Bocage 1866, endemic to Africa Amietia dracomontana (Channing, 1978), Drakensberg river frog, syn. Afrana dracomontana (Channing, 1978), Rana dracomontana Channing 1978, endemic Amietia fuscigula (Duméril & Bibron, 1841), Cape river frog, syn. Strongylopus hymenopus (Boulenger, 1920), Afrana fuscigula (Duméril and Bibron, 1841), endemic Amietia vandijki (Visser & Channing, 1997), Van Dijk's river frog, syn. Afrana vandijki Visser and Channing, 1997, endemic Amietia vertebralis (Hewitt, 1927), large-mouthed frog, syn. Rana vertebralis, Amietia umbraculata Genus Anhydrophryne: Anhydrophryne hewitti (FitzSimons, 1947), Natal chirping frog, syn. Arthroleptella hewitti FitzSimons, 1947, endemic Anhydrophryne rattrayi Hewitt, 1919, Hogsback frog, endemic Genus Arthroleptella: Arthroleptella bicolor Hewitt, 1926, Bainskloof moss frog, endemic Arthroleptella ngongoniensis Bishop and Passmore, 1993, mistbelt chirping frog, syn. Arthroleptella ngongoniensis Bishop and Passmore, 1993, endemic Arthroleptella drewesii Channing, Hendricks & Dawood, 1994, Drewes' moss frog, endemic Arthroleptella landdrosia Dawood & Channing, 2000, Landdros moss frog, endemic Arthroleptella lightfooti (Boulenger, 1910), tiny chirping frog, endemic Arthroleptella rugosa Turner & Channing, 2008, introduced Arthroleptella subvoce Turner, de Villiers, Dawood & Channing, 2004 Arthroleptella villiersi Hewitt, 1935, De Villiers' moss frog, endemic Genus Cacosternum: Cacosternum boettgeri (Boulenger, 1882), Boettger's dainty frog, syn. Arthroleptis boettgeri Cacosternum capense Hewitt, 1925, cross-marked frog, endemic Cacosternum karooicum Boycott, de Villiers & Scott, 2002, Karoo Caco, endemic Cacosternum namaquense Werner, 1910, Namaqua dainty frog, endemic Cacosternum nanum Boulenger, 1887, dwarf dainty frog, endemic Cacosternum nanum Polynton 1963, small dainty frog, endemic Cacosternum platys Rose, 1950, smooth dainty frog, endemic Cacosternum poyntoni Lambiris, 1988, Poynton's caco, endemic Cacosternum striatum FitzSimons, 1947, striped metal frog, endemic Genus Microbatrachella: Microbatrachella capensis (Boulenger, 1910), micro frog, syn. Phrynobatrachus capensis, Microbatrachus capensis, endemic Genus Natalobatrachus: Natalobatrachus bonebergi Hewitt & Methuen, 1912, Natal diving frog, syn. Phrynobatrachus bonebergi, endemic Genus Poyntonia: Poyntonia paludicola Channing & Boycott, 1989, montane marsh frog, endemic Genus Pyxicephalus: Pyxicephalus adspersus Tschudi, 1838, South African burrowing frog, near endemic Pyxicephalus edulis Peters, 1854, edible bullfrog, syn. Rana maltzanii, endemic Genus Strongylopus: Strongylopus bonaespei (Dubois, 1981), banded stream frog, endemic Strongylopus fasciatus (Smith, 1849), striped stream frog, syn. Rana fasciata, endemic Strongylopus grayii (Smith, 1849), Gray's stream frog, endemic