Ghost frog
| Ghost frogs | |
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| Eastern ghost frog (Heleophryne orientalis) | |
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| Family: | Heleophrynidae Noble, 1931
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| Genus: | Heleophryne Sclater, 1898
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| Species | |
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Hadromophryne natalensis | |
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| Distribution of Heleophrynidae (in black) | |
The ghost frog is the common name for a family of frogs of the family Heleophrynidae. The family has two genera, Heleophryne and Hadromophryne. There are seven species. Ghost frogs live in swift-moving mountain streams in South Africa. The common name of "ghost frogs" may be because they live in Skeleton Gorge.[1]
Biology
[change | change source]Ghost frogs are medium sized frogs, reaching a length of 6 centimetres (2.4 in). They have flat bodies. This lets them climb inside rocky crevices. They have very large toe discs in comparison to their size. This helps to hold onto rocks. The mouthparts of the tadpoles are a sucking disc. This lets them hold onto the surface they live on and remain still while they are feeding.[1]
Taxonomy
[change | change source]The ghost frogs are closely related to the Sooglossidae family, which inhabit the Seychelles. They may also be closely related to the Australian Myobatrachids.
Family Heleophrynidae
- Genus Hadromophryne Van Dijk, 2008
- Natal Ghost Frog, Hadromophryne natalensis Hewitt, 1913
- Genus Heleophryne Sclater, 1898
- Cederberg Ghost Frog, Heleophryne depressa FitzSimons, 1946
- Hewitt's Ghost Frog, Heleophryne hewitti Boycott, 1988
- Eastern Ghost Frog, Heleophryne orientalis FitzSimons, 1946
- Purcell's Ghost Frog, Heleophryne purcelli Sclater, 1898
- Royal Ghost Frog, Heleophryne regis Hewitt, 1910
- Table Mountain Ghost Frog, Heleophryne rosei Hewitt, 1925
References
[change | change source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Zweifel, Richard G. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 104–105. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
- Cogger, H.G.; R.G. Zweifel, and D. Kirschner (2004). Encyclopedia of Reptiles & Amphibians Second Edition. Fog City Press. ISBN 1-877019-69-0.