Hyperoliidae - African Reed Frogs		Classification  Kingdom: Animalia  Phylum: Chordata  Subphylum: Vertebrata  Class: Amphibia  Order: Anura   Family: Hyperoliidae

There are around 211 species in this family of small frogs.

The frogs in this family are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and the Seychelles Islands. Most species are 1-3 inches in length. Many species are beautifully colored and patterned.

Most of the species in this family live in trees., but some species live on the ground.

Like members of the Hylidae family, the frogs in this family have sticky toe pads and extra cartilage between the last two bones of each toe that makes their toes more flexible!

Hyperoliidae Photo Gallery

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct
Status taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status, or there is no status data for the species.

Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US

Endangered in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

Species Around the World
Location Key Africa Asia Australia Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info Click for Image
African Wart Frog - Acanthixalus sonjae Acanthixalus spinosus Golden Banana Frog - Afrixalus aureus   Lesser Banana Frog - Afrixalus brachycnemis Clarke's Banana Frog - Afrixalus clarkei Afrixalus crotalus Pickersgill's Banana Frog - Afrixalus delicatus Striped Spiny Reed Frog - Afrixalus dorsalis Afrixalus dorsimaculatus Ethiopian Banana Frog - Afrixalus enseticola Congo Banana Frog - Afrixalus equatorialis Fornasini's Spiny Reed Frog - Afrixalus fornasini Banded Banana Frog - Afrixalus fulvovittatus Knysna Banana Frog - Afrixalus knysnae Afrixalus lacteus Afrixalus laevis Afrixalus leucostictus Afrixalus lindholmi Banana Frog - Afrixalus morerei Nigeria Banana Frog - Afrixalus nigeriensis Two-lined Leaf Gluing Frog - Afrixalus orophilus Osorio's Spiny Reed Frog - Afrixalus osorioi Afrixalus paradorsalis Afrixalus quadrivittatus Afrixalus schneideri Afrixalus septentrionalis Natal Banana Frog - Afrixalus spinifrons Afrixalus stuhlmanni Forest Banana Frog - Afrixalus sylvaticus Uluguru banana frog - Afrixalus uluguruensis Afrixalus upembae Afrixalus - Afrixalus vibekensis Savanna Banana Frog - Afrixalus vittiger Weidholz's Banana Frog - Afrixalus weidholzi Afrixalus wittei Alexteroon hypsiphonus Alexteroon jynx Alexteroon obstetricans Arlequinus krebsi Callixalus pictus Chlorolius koehleri Chrysobatrachus cupreonitens Cryptothylax greshoffii Cryptothylax minutus Heterixalus alboguttatus Heterixalus andrakata Heterixalus betsileo Heterixalus boettgeri Heterixalus carbonei Heterixalus luteostriatus Heterixalus madagascariensis Heterixalus punctatus Rutenberg's Reed Frog - Heterixalus rutenbergi Heterixalus tricolor Heterixalus variabilis Hyperolius acuticephalus Hyperolius acuticeps Hyperolius acutirostris Hyperolius ademetzi Hyperolius adspersus Hyperolius albofrenatus Hyperolius argus Hyperolius atrigularis Hyperolius balfouri Baumann's Reed Frog - Hyperolius baumanni Hyperolius benguellensis Hyperolius bicolor Bobiri Reed Frog - Hyperolius bobirensis Hyperolius bolifambae Hyperolius bopeleti Hyperolius brachiofasciatus Hyperolius camerunensis Montane Reed Frog - Hyperolius castaneus Sierra Leone Reed Frog - Hyperolius chlorosteus Hyperolius chrysogaster Hyperolius cinereus Cinnamon-bellied Reed Frog -Hyperolius cinnamomeoventris Hyperolius concolor Hyperolius - Hyperolius cystocandicans Hyperolius diaphanus Reed Frog - Hyperolius dintelmanni Albertine Rift Reed Frog - Hyperolius discodactylus Hyperolius endjami Hyperolius fasciatus Hyperolius ferreirai Hyperolius ferrugineus White-snouted Reed Frog - Hyperolius frontalis Hyperolius fuscigula Lime Reed Frog - Hyperolius fusciventris Hyperolius ghesquieri Hyperolius glandicolor Hyperolius gularis Dotted Reed Frog - Hyperolius guttulatus Horstock's Reed Frog - Hyperolius horstockii Hyperolius houyi Hyperolius hutsebauti Hyperolius igbettensis Hyperolius inornatus Hyperolius kachalolae Hyperolius kibarae African Reed Frog - Hyperolius kihangensis Kivu Reed Frog - Hyperolius kivuensis Hyperolius kuligae Hyperolius lamottei Hyperolius langi		Hyperolius lateralis Togo Reed Frog - Hyperolius laticeps Schiotz's Reed Frog - Hyperolius laurenti Hyperolius leleupi Hyperolius leucotaenius Hyperolius lucani Hyperolius maestus Hyperolius major Hyperolius marginatus Hyperolius mariae Painted Reed Frog - Hyperolius marmoratus Tiny Reed Frog - Hyperolius minutissimus Hyperolius mitchelli Hyperolius molleri Hyperolius montanus Hyperolius mosaicus Hyperolius nasicus Sharp-nosed Reed Frog - Hyperolius nasutus Reed Frog - Hyperolius nienokouensis Mount Nimba Reed Frog - Hyperolius nimbae Hyperolius nitidulus Hyperolius obscurus Hyperolius occidentalis Golden-eyed Reed Frog - Hyperolius ocellatus Hyperolius orkarkarri Hyperolius parallelus Hyperolius pardalis Hyperolius parkeri Hyperolius phantasticus Pickersgill's Reed Frog - Hyperolius pickersgilli Hyperolius picturatus Hyperolius pictus Hyperolius platyceps Hyperolius polli Hyperolius polystictus Hyperolius poweri Hyperolius protchei Hyperolius pseudargus Spotted Reed Frog - Hyperolius puncticulatus Hyperolius punctulatus Water Lily Reed Frog - Hyperolius pusillus Hyperolius pustulifer Hyperolius pyrrhodictyon Hyperolius quadratomaculatus Hyperolius quinquevittatus Hyperolius raveni Hyperolius reesi Hyperolius rhizophilus Hyperolius rhodesianus Riggenbach's Reed Frog - Hyperolius riggenbachi Gembe Reed Frog - Hyperolius robustus Reed Frog - Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus Omaniundu Reed Frog - Hyperolius sankuruensis Hyperolius schoutedeni Hyperolius seabrai Hyperolius semidiscus Hyperolius sheldricki Hyperolius soror Spiny-throated Reed Frog - Hyperolius spinigularis Hyperolius steindachneri Hyperolius stenodactylus Hyperolius substriatus Hyperolius swynnertoni Bobiri Reed Frog - Hyperolius sylvaticus Reed Frog - Hyperolius tannerorum Sao Tome Giant Tree Frog - Hyperolius thomensis Hyperolius thoracotuberculatus Hyperolius tornieri Ukami Reed Frog - Hyperolius torrentis Hyperolius tuberculatus Hyperolius tuberilinguis Hyperolius vilhenai Common Reed Frog - Hyperolius viridiflavus Stream Reed Frog - Hyperolius viridigulosus Reed Frog - Hyperolius viridis Hyperolius watsonae Hyperolius wermuthi Hyperolius xenorhinus Hyperolius zonatus Ivory Coast Running Frog - Kassina arboricola Silver Running Frog - Kassina cassinoides Kassina cochranae Kassina decorata Brown Running Frog - Kassina fusca Kassina jozani Kassina kuvangensis Rainforest Running Frog - Kassina lamottei Red-legged kassina - Kassina maculata Kassina maculifer Kassina maculosa Kassina mertensi Kassina schioetzi Senegal kassina - Kassina senegalensis Kassina somalica Kassina wazae Kassinula wittei Morerella cyanophthalma Opisthothylax immaculatus Paracassina kounhiensis Paracassina obscura Phlyctimantis boulengeri Phlyctimantis keithae Phlyctimantis leonardi Phlyctimantis verrucosus Weale's Running Frog - Semnodactylus wealii Seychelles Treefrog - Tachycnemis seychellensis

Additional Information

Resource Key
Profile Photos Video Audio

Clarke's Banana Frog - Afrixalus clarkei
Clarke's banana frog is found in Ethiopia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

African Reed Frog - Hyperolius kihangensis
The African reed frog is found in Tanzania.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

African Wart Frog - Acanthixalus sonjae
The African wart frog is found in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Afrixalus - Afrixalus vibekensis
The Afrixalus frog is found in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Albertine Rift Reed Frog - Hyperolius discodactylus
The Albertine rift reed frog is found in Burundi, Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Banana Frog - Afrixalus morerei
The banana frog is found in Tanzania.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Bobiri Reed Frog - Hyperolius bobirensis
The Bobiri reed frog is found in Ghana.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Common Reed Frog - Hyperolius viridiflavus
The common reed frog is found in Burundi, Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Common Reed Frog - Hyperolius viridiflavus
There are over 50 subspeices of common reed frog.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ethiopian Banana Frog - Afrixalus enseticola
The Ethiopian banana frog is found in Ethiopia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Forest Banana Frog - Afrixalus sylvaticus [en]
The forest banana frog is found in Kenya and Tanzania.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Fornasini's Spiny Reed Frog - Afrixalus fornasini
Fornasini's spiny reed frog is found in Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Gembe Reed Frog - Hyperolius robustus
The Gembe reed frog is found in Congo.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Golden-eyed Reed Frog - Hyperolius ocellatus
The golden-eyed reed frog is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, and Uganda.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Heterixalus alboguttatus
Heterixalus alboguttatus is found in the southeastern lowlands of Madagascar.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Heterixalus boettgeri
Heterixalus boettgeri is found in Madagascar.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Heterixalus luteostriatus
Heterixalus luteostriatus is found in Madagascar.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Heterixalus variabilis
Heterixalus variabilis is found in Madagascar.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Horstock's Reed Frog - Hyperolius horstockii
Horstock's Reed Frog is found in South Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Horstock's Reed Frog - Hyperolius horstockii
Horstock's Reed Frog can be up to 1.7 inches in length.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Hyperolius - Hyperolius cystocandicans
Hyperolius cystocandicans is found in Kenya.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hyperolius benguellensis
Hyperolius benguellensis is found in Angola, Botswana, Congo, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Hyperolius tuberculatus
Hyperolius tuberculatus is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Ivory Coast Running Frog - Kassina arboricola
The Ivory Coast running frog is found in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Kassina decorata
Kassina decorata is found in Cameroon.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Keith’s Striped Frog - Phlyctimantis keithae
Keith's striped frog is found in China.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Kivu Reed Frog - Hyperolius kivuensis
The Kivu reed frog is found in Angola, Burundi, Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Knysna Banana Frog - Afrixalus knysnae
The Knysna banana frog is found in South Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Montane Reed Frog - Hyperolius castaneus
The Montane reed frog is found in Burundi, Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Montane Reed Frog - Hyperolius castaneus
The Montane reed frog is found in swamps.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Natal Banana Frog - Afrixalus spinifrons
The Natal banana frog is found in South Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Nigeria Banana Frog - Afrixalus nigeriensis
The Nigeria banana frog is found in Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Painted Reed Frog - Hyperolius marmoratus
The painted reed frog is found in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Painted Reed Frog - Hyperolius marmoratus
The painted reed frog is active at night. It spends the day resting on reeds or other plants.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Pickersgill's Banana Frog - Afrixalus delicatus
Pickersgill's banana frog is found in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, and Tanzania.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Pickersgill's Reed Frog - Hyperolius pickersgilli
Pickersgill's Reed Frog is found in South Africa.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Rainforest Running Frog - Kassina lamottei
The Rainforest running frog is found in Côte d'Ivoire.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Reed Frog - Hyperolius dintelmanni
The reed frog is found in Cameroon.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Reed Frog - Hyperolius nienokouensis
The reed frog is found in Côte d'Ivoire.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mount Nimba Reed Frog - Hyperolius nimbae
The Mount Nimba reed frog is found in Côte d'Ivoire.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Phlyctimantis leonardi
Phlyctimantis leonardi is found in Congo, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Red-legged Kassina - Kassina maculata
The red-legged kassina is found in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Reed Frog - Hyperolius rubrovermiculatus
The reed frog is found in Kenya.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Reed Frog - Hyperolius tannerorum
The reed frog is found in Tanzania.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Reed Frog - Hyperolius viridis
The reed frog is found in Tanzania.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Riggenbach's Reed Frog - Hyperolius riggenbachi
Riggenbach's reed frog is found in Cameroon and Nigeria.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Riggenbach's Reed Frog - Hyperolius riggenbachi
Riggenbach's reed frog is found in bushlands.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Sao Tome Giant Tree Frog - Hyperolius thomensis
The Sao Tome giant tree frog is found in Sao Tomé and Principe.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Schiotz’s Reed Frog - Hyperolius laurenti
Schiotz's reed frog is found in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Senegal Kassina - Kassina senegalensis
The Senegal kassina is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Sharp-nosed Reed Frog - Hyperolius nasutus
The sharp-nosed reed frog is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Namibia, and Zambia.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Sierra Leone Reed Frog - Hyperolius chlorosteus
The Sierra Leone reed frog is found in Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Spotted Reed Frog - Hyperolius puncticulatus
The spotted reed frog is found in Tanzania.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Stream Reed Frog - Hyperolius viridigulosus
The stream reed frog is found in Côte d'Ivoire; Ghana.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Striped Spiny Reed Frog - Afrixalus dorsalis
The striped spiny reed frog is found in Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Tiny Reed Frog - Hyperolius minutissimus
The tiny reed frog is found in Tanzania.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Two-lined Leaf Gluing Frog - Afrixalus orophilus
The two-lined leaf gluing frog is found in Burundi, the Congo,Rwanda, and Uganda.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Ukami Reed Frog - Hyperolius torrentis
The blank frog is found in Ghana and Togo.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Uluguru Banana Frog - Afrixalus uluguruensis
The blank frog is found in Tanzania.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Water Lily Reed Frog - Hyperolius pusillus
The water lily reed frog is found in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

White-snouted Reed Frog - Hyperolius frontalis
The blank frog is found in Congo and Uganda.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School