Afrixalus crotalus

Afrixalus crotalus is a species of frogs in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in southern Malawi, central Mozambique, and eastern Zimbabwe.[1][3] It might be a subspecies of Afrixalus aureus,[3] a position adopted by the AmphibiaWeb.[4] It is sometimes known as the Zimbabwe banana frog or snoring spiny reed frog.[3]

Afrixalus crotalus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hyperoliidae
Genus: Afrixalus
Species:
A. crotalus
Binomial name
Afrixalus crotalus
Pickersgill, 1984[2]
Synonyms[3]
  • Afrixalus aureus crotalus Pickersgill, 1984

Description

Adult males measure 17–22 mm (0.67–0.87 in) and females 20–24 mm (0.79–0.94 in) in snout–vent length. The snout is tapering. The gular disc is large and usually has small asperities. There are also minute asperities on the head; otherwise, the body has no asperities. Adults usually have a rudimentary mid-dorsal line and para-dorsal stripes. The headspot, usually present among the related species, is very weakly developed.[2]

Habitat and conservation

Afrixalus crotalus inhabit moist savanna and shrubland at low to medium altitudes. Breeding takes place in ephemeral grassy pools, flooded grassland, and marshes.[1] The eggs are laid in folded, glued leaves of vegetation at, and just under, the surface of water.[2]

The species is abundant at suitable locations and tolerates some habitat modification. Some populations might nevertheless be impacted by spreading of agriculture and human settlements and by chemical control of mosquitoes. It occurs in a number of protected areas.[1]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Afrixalus crotalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T56058A18369349. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T56058A18369349.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. Pickersgill, Martin (1984). "Three new Afrixalus (Anura: Hyperoliidae) from South-Eastern Africa". Durban Museum Novitates. 13 (17): 203–220.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Afrixalus crotalus Pickersgill, 1984". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  4. "Afrixalus aureus Golden Dwarf Reed Frog, Golden Spiny Reed Frog". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
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