Phrynomantis bifasciatus (Smith, 1847) - Red-Banded Rubber Frog, Red-Banded Frog, Red-Banded Crevice Creeper, Fire Walking Frog, South African Snake-Necked Frog

Red-Banded Rubber Frog, Phrynomantis bifasciatus (Photo: ©2009 Kurt Kunze)		Family:	Microhylidae (Narrow-Mouthed Frogs)
		Subfamilae:	Phrynomerinae (Rubber Frogs)
		Origin:	Angola, Botswana, the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, & Zimbabwe. Introduced to Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Zambia
		Adult Snout-to-Vent Length:	Male: 53 mm (2.08 inches); Female: 65 mm (2.55 inches)
		IUCN (Red List) Status:	Least Concern (LC)
		Similar Species:	Phrynomantis microps, Red-Backed or West African Rubber Frog

Meet the Frog Part 5: the Red-Banded Rubber Frog, Phrynomantis bifasciatus

Phrynomantis bifasciatus in know by many common names. Probably the most descriptive is Red-Banded Crevice Creeper, because this frog will seek just about any tight space or crevice for shelter during the day. It is also known as the Fire Walking Frog for its habit of walking rather than hopping as a means of locomotion.

Its slow mode of moving about matters little as this species is quite toxic - its bright colors warn potential predators to avoid making a meal of this attractive little frog. Normal handling of this frog is generally safe. However, if there are scratches or open wounds on one's hands, poisoning can result. Symptoms of a poisoning include painful swelling, difficulty in breathing, headache, increased heart rate, and nausea. These symptoms should last no more than 4 hours. If other frogs are kept in the same enclosure with this species, they may well die.

Red-Banded Rubber Frog, Phrynomantis bifasciatus (Photo: ©2009 Kurt Kunze)

Breeding takes place during summer in temporary ponds that form after heavy rains. Females of this species are known to lay between 600 and 1,500 eggs, which are often attached to floating vegetation. Tadpoles hatch 4 days later and metamorphose about a month later.

During the dry season this species seeks shelter in burrows, loose soil, termite mounds, and the hollows of dead trees. It is capable of digging burrows with its hind limbs, even though it lacks the "digging spades" found on frogs of other families, such as Scaphiopodidae and Pelobatidae (Spadefoot Toads). It is often found miles from the nearest water source, in sand or under rocks. While generally found at ground level, this species is surprizingly adept at climbing, so finding one in a tree or a bush is not unusual.

A particularly fascinating characteristic of this species is its tongue. It can shoot out in an arc greater than 200 degrees, meaning it can capture prey that is to the side of it's head or just slightly behind it. It shares this feature with other members of the family Microhylidae, as well as members of the family Hemisotidae. The frog's diet in the wild includes ants and perhaps termites. In captivity it will feed upon any small insect. Tadpoles of this species are filter feeders.

When threatened, Phrynomantis bifasciatus will inflate itself very much like a Bufonid (True Toad) would, with its head tucked in. Warning colors and skin toxins are effective at backing up this defense posture.

In captivity, this frog can be maintained like your average toad. Record for longevity of this species in captivity is 6 years, 7 months. Sadly, all specimens currently offered for sale in the pet trade are wild caught in origin.

References

1. Channing, Alan & Howell, Kim M. Amphibians of East Africa 2006; Cornell University Press.

2. Whittaker, Kellie & Chantasirivisal, Peera Phrynomantis bifasciatus Red-Banded Rubber Frog, Red-banded Frog, South African Snake-Necked Frog 2005 University of California, Berkeley. http://amphibiaweb.org/.

Other Resources

AmphibiaWeb Record: Phrynomantis bifasciatus
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©2009 Kurt Kunze

Written by Kurt Kunze in September 2009.

Edited by John P. Clare - Last updated 11th November 2009.

About the Author
Kurt Kunze is a self educated herpetologist and a member of the New England Herpetological Society based in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, USA. He has been a herpetologist for the past ten years or so, before that he was a professional aquarist, working with everything from guppies and goldfish to sharks and octopus. He has worked for the Museum of Science in Boston in their Live Animal Center and for the Museum of Natural History of Harvard University as a gallery guide. At the MoS, he worked with various reptiles and amphibian species, including alligators, snakes, lizards, turtles, and frogs. At Harvard, he did live animal demonstrations and educated visitors in paleontology, particularly on Mesozoic reptiles. His husbandry skills were refined by working at the MoS, as well as with the late Barbara Bonner DVM at her Turtle Hospital. Kurt has also co-authored the questionnaire for Assumption College's Science Olympiad on herpetology for the past two years. Kurt makes his home in Billerica, Massachusetts, USA, along with his small "zoo", which includes various scorpions, fish, salamanders, turtles, snakes, and of course, frogs. His interests center on the Hylids, Dendrobatids, Bufonids, & Microhylids. Kurt has bred the Red-Eyed Leaf Frog, Agalychnis callidryas, and has plans to breed the Red-Banded Rubber Frog, Phrynomantis bifasciatus, the False or Southern Tomato Frog, Dyscophus guineti, and the Fire-Bellied Toad, Bombina orientalis.
John P. Clare hails from Ireland and is the founder of FrogForum.net and Caudata.org. He has had an interest in amphibians since the age of 4. He holds a degree in Natural Science and a PhD in Chemistry. His primary research interests are the synthesis and study of molecules for the remediation of freshwater pollutants. In his spare time he likes to photograph amphibians and reptiles in the wild. His photographs have been published in everything from children's books to university level textbooks. His photos have featured in such diverse media as the programme "Brink" on the Science Channel in the US, Texas Parks and Wildlife literature, the Boston Museum of Science, Palais de la Découverte Science Museum in Paris, France, and several Zoological Institutions' brochures and exhibit ID cards.