Hyperoliidae

Taxobox
name = Sedge and Bush Frogs

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Heterixalus alboguttatus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Anura
familia = Hyperoliidae
subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
subdivision = Hyperoliinae
Kassininae
Leptopelinae
Tachycnemidae

Hyperoliidae is a family of small to medium sized, brightly colored, frogs which contains more than 250 species in 19 genera. Seventeen genera are native to sub-Saharan Africa [Shiotz, 1999] . In addition,the monotypic genus "Tachycnemis" occurs on the Seychelles Islands, and the genus "Heterixalus" (currently 10 species) is endemic to Madagascar.

Hyperoliids range from convert|1.5|cm|in to convert|8|cm|in in body length. Many species have smooth, brightly patterned, skin that almost looks enameled.cite book |editor=Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.|author= Zweifel, Robert G.|year=1998|title=Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians|publisher= Academic Press|location=San Diego|pages= 100-101|isbn= 0-12-178560-2]

Most Hyperoliids are arboreal, but some are terrestrial, including several "Kassina" species that move by walking or running rather than hopping. Diet varies widely, with examples including "Tornierella", who specialize on snailsfact|date=September 2008, and "Afrixalus fornasinii", the only terrestrial frog known to prey on eggs of other species of anurans.

Breeding in this family begins at the start of the rainy season where Hyperoliids congregate at breeding sites. Most hyperoliids lay their eggs in water, although foam nesting, tree hole breeding, and laying of eggs in vegetation above water are all known behaviors. "Afrixalus" builds leaf nests for its eggs, by folding and gluing the edges of the leaves. Tadpoles are pond type larvae with large dorsal fins on the tail.

No fossil hyperoliids are known.

Classification

Family HYPEROLIIDAE
* Subfamily Hyperoliinae
** Genus Acanthixalus - African wart frogs
** Genus Alexteroon - Midwife frogs
** Genus Arlequinus - Mebebque frogs
** Genus Callixalus - African painted frogs
** Genus Chlorolius - Koehler's green frogs
** Genus Chrysobatrachus - Itombwe golden frogs
** Genus Cryptothylax - Wax frogs
** Genus Heterixalus - Madagascan reed frogs
** Genus Hyperolius - African reed frogs
** Genus Nesionixalus
* Subfamily Kassininae
** Genus Afrixalus - Banana frogs
** Genus Kassina - Running frogs
** Genus Kassinula - Clicking frogs
** Genus Opisthothylax - Grey-eyed frogs
** Genus Paracassina - Common striped frogs
** Genus Phlyctimantis - African striped frogs
** Genus Semnodactylus - Weal's frogs
** Genus Tornierella
* Subfamily Leptopelinae
** Genus Leptopelis
* Subfamily Tachycneminae
** Genus Tachycnemis - Seychelles Islands frogs

Links to Species

*Hyperolius argus - Argus Reed Frog, African Reed Frog
*Leptopelis vermiculatus - Big-Eyed Tree Frog

References

Schiotz, A. 1999. Treefrogs of Africa. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, ISBN 3-930612-24-0

External links

* [http://www.infochembio.ethz.ch/links/en/zool_kriecht_froesche_laub_afrikan.html African Tree Frogs Herpetology (images)]
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Hyperoliidae.html Hyperoliidae information]