Ptychadenidae

Genera: 3 Species: 53 Range: Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and the Seychelles.

Ecology and behavior: They favor savannas, open woodlands, mountainous areas, hills, and areas near water bodies.

Active during the day. Lead a terrestrial lifestyle. Feed on invertebrates, small fish, and tadpoles. Morphological characteristics: The total length of members of this family ranges from 2 to 10 cm. Sexual dimorphism is observed: females are larger than males. In external appearance and structure they resemble species of the family Ranidae. They have an elongated medium-sized head, with slightly protruding eyes. The body is slender. The hind limbs are more robust than the forelimbs. The second toe is longer than the rest. They also differ in molecular phylogenetic characteristics. Coloration is predominantly gray, brown, olive, and dark-brown tones with thin stripes (dark or light in color) — located either on the back or along the sides.

Ptychadena pumilio Ptychadenidae Dubois Ptychadena anchietae.

Sources: Frost D.R. et al., Ptychadenidae.

In Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 5.2, American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA, 2008.