The Painted Reed Frog (Hyperolius marmoratus) is a colourful and common species of frog in the area.
What do they look like? The name says it all. These frogs have beautiful colours and mottled patterns, which can sometimes vary. Their feet are usually a red/pink colour. It’s like a fine piece of art. Adults can’t be mistaken for any other species in the Highway area. Sub-adults, however, often confuse people, as they lack the bright colours. Juveniles are a pale brown colour, with faint banded markings on their sides.
Are they poisonous? No. Some people may believe that they are, due to their bright colours, but they aren’t.
What call do they make? Painted Reed Frogs emit a short, piercing, high-pitched, whistling sound. If you’re standing by a pond where there are a few dozen of them calling, your ears may start ringing and you may get a mild headache. They’re incredibly loud, but it’s still a nice call. I’d rather listen to them than not hear any frogs at all.
Where do they live? Around any body of still water – they’re not fussy. Whether it’s a dam, garden pond or wetland. Where there’s fresh, non-polluted water, they’ll be there. In a way, it’s a pity that they’re so common. If you go looking for frogs, you’ll see plenty of these so you soon forget to admire and appreciate these stunning little frogs.
Did you know? The Painted Reed Frog is divided into three subspecies. H. marmoratus verrucosus occurs in the Western and Eastern Cape, H.marmoratus marmoratus occurs in southern KZN and a bit north of Durban (our local), and H. marmoratus taeniatus occurs in Northern KZN and into the northern provinces. They’re all called Painted Reed Frogs, but their colours may vary slightly, but it’s usually the patterns that are the clearest difference.
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