Stats

Lifespan: 3-5 yrs
Size: Small
Diet: Insectivore
Activity: Nocturnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Freshwater wetland
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa
Movement: Climbing
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Camouflage
Status: Rare

About

A tiny Sub-Saharan African tree frog whose 'variable' name is literal — individuals within the same population can range from solid lime green to yellow, orange, brown, or boldly patterned, making it among the most visually variable frogs on earth. It clings to reeds and grasses near water with adhesive toe pads, calling at dusk in high-pitched trills.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A jelly-coated egg is laid in water and develops over days into an aquatic larva.
2.
tadpole
A gilled tadpole swims and grazes on algae, slowly absorbing its tail and growing limbs.
3.
juvenile
A near-adult amphibian leaves the water with new legs and lungs, smaller than the mature form.
4.
adult
Fully grown at adult size, breathing air.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hyperoliidae
Genus: Hyperolius
Species: Hyperolius concolor