Hyperolius poweri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hyperolius poweri |
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| Hyperolius poweri was previously included in Hyperolius acuticeps. Based on the locality (Durban), this frog identified as H. acuticeps is H. poweri. | |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Hyperoliidae |
| Genus: | Hyperolius |
| Species: |
H. poweri
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| Binomial name | |
| Hyperolius poweri Loveridge, 1938
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Hyperolius poweri is a type of frog that belongs to the Hyperoliidae family. You can find this small frog along the southeastern coast of South Africa and in southern Mozambique. Its scientific name, poweri, honors John Hyacinth Power. He was an Irish-born director of the McGregor Museum in Kimberley, South Africa. John Power was known for collecting different animals and plants. Because of him, this frog is also known as Power's reed frog or Power's long reed frog.
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What is Power's Reed Frog?
Hyperolius poweri was first described by a scientist named Arthur Loveridge in 1938. He found specimens near Stanger in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This frog is part of a group called the Hyperolius nasutus group. These frogs can be tricky for scientists to tell apart.
For a while, Hyperolius poweri was thought to be the same as another frog, Hyperolius acuticeps. But now, scientists agree that Hyperolius poweri is its own unique species.
How Does Power's Reed Frog Look?
These frogs are quite small. Male Hyperolius poweri frogs grow to about 20 millimeters (0.8 inches) long. Females are a bit bigger, reaching about 25 millimeters (1 inch) in length.
Their snout, or nose area, looks rounded from the side. From above, it looks sharply pointed. Their toes have a lot of webbing between them, which helps them swim. Both their fingers and toes have yellowish-green pads on the ends. The pads on their fingers are larger than those on their toes.
The back of the frog, called the dorsum, is green. It often has white stripes along its sides. These stripes run from above their eyes all the way to their rear end. Sometimes, these white stripes are hard to see. There is also a dark line that goes from the tip of their snout to their eyes. Male frogs have a white throat.
Where Does Power's Reed Frog Live?
Hyperolius poweri frogs live near water. They are found among plants that grow out of the water, like those at the edges of swamps, rivers, and lakes. These habitats are usually in savanna and grassland areas.
Male frogs like to call out from sedges and other plants sticking out of the water. This is how they attract mates.
Is Power's Reed Frog Safe?
Even though their homes are sometimes lost or damaged, Hyperolius poweri frogs are doing okay. They live in a fairly large area, and there's still plenty of good habitat for them. Because of this, scientists have listed them as a "least concern" species in 2016. This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
You can find these frogs in many protected areas, which helps keep them safe. However, the total number of these frogs seems to have gone down over time.
