Hyperoliidae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sedge and Bush Frogs |
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| Heterixalus alboguttatus | |
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Hyperoliidae
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Hyperoliinae |
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Hyperoliidae is a group of small to medium-sized frogs. They are often very brightly colored. This family includes more than 250 different types of frogs, found in 19 main groups called genera. Most of these frogs, about 17 genera, live in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.
These frogs can be quite small, from about 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) (half an inch) long, up to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) (about 3 inches) long. Many of them have smooth, shiny skin with bright patterns. It can look almost like it's made of shiny enamel.
Contents
Where Sedge and Bush Frogs Live
Most frogs in the Hyperoliidae family live in trees. They are known as "tree frogs." However, some types live on the ground. For example, several kinds of Kassina frogs live on land. These frogs move around by walking or running instead of hopping, which is unusual for frogs!
What Sedge and Bush Frogs Eat
The diet of these frogs can be very different from one species to another.
- Some, like the Tornierella frog, enjoy eating snails.
- Others, like Afrixalus fornasinii, are unique. This frog is the only known land frog that eats the eggs of other frog species!
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Breeding for these frogs starts when the rainy season begins. The frogs gather together at special places to mate. Most Hyperoliidae frogs lay their eggs in water. The baby frogs, called Tadpoles, are like pond larvae. They have large fins on their tails that help them swim.
Types of Sedge and Bush Frogs
The Hyperoliidae family is divided into smaller groups called subfamilies and then into genera. Here are some of the main groups:
Hyperoliinae Subfamily
- Genus Acanthixalus - These are known as African wart frogs.
- Genus Alexteroon - Called midwife frogs.
- Genus Arlequinus - Known as Mebebque frogs.
- Genus Callixalus - These are African painted frogs.
- Genus Chlorolius - Called Koehler's green frogs.
- Genus Chrysobatrachus - Known as Itombwe golden frogs.
- Genus Cryptothylax - These are wax frogs.
- Genus Heterixalus - Known as Madagascan reed frogs.
- Genus Hyperolius - These are African reed frogs.
- Genus Nesionixalus
Kassininae Subfamily
- Genus Afrixalus - These are often called banana frogs.
- Genus Kassina - Known as running frogs because of how they move.
- Genus Kassinula - These are clicking frogs.
- Genus Opisthothylax - Called grey-eyed frogs.
- Genus Paracassina - Known as common striped frogs.
- Genus Phlyctimantis - These are African striped frogs.
- Genus Semnodactylus - Called Weal's frogs.
- Genus Tornierella
Tachycneminae Subfamily
- Genus Tachycnemis - These frogs are found on the Seychelles Islands.
See also
In Spanish: Ranas arborícolas africanas para niños
