Hyperolius semidiscus (Hewitt, 1927) - Yellow-Striped Reed Frog, Hewitt's Reed Frog

Yellow-Striped Reed Frog, Hyperolius semidiscus (Photo: ©2005 Wolfgang Ochojski)		Family:	Hyperoliidae (Reed & African Treefrogs)
		Subfamily:	Hyperoliinae (Reed Frogs)
		Origin:	East coast of South Africa, Swaziland
		Adult Snout-to-Vent Length:	35 mm (1.4 inches)
		IUCN (Red List) Status:	Least Concern (LC)
		Similar Species:	Hyperolius cinnamomeoventris, Cinnamon-bellied Reed Frog Hyperolius nasutus, Long Reed Frog Hyperolius spinigularis, Spiny-throated Reed Frog

Meet the Frog Part 8: the Yellow-Striped Reed Frog, Hyperolius semidiscus

Reed frogs are not popular zoo exhibit animals and are most commonly encountered outside of their native habitat as animals in the pet trade. The problem with most reed frogs within the pet trade is that they are usually sold under the heading "assorted reed frogs", leaving the prospective reed frog keeper guessing as to what kind of reed frog they have. This article will, hopefully, shed some light on at least one species' identity.

Hyperolius semidiscus is a green frog that grows to a length of 35 mm (1.4 inches). There are two yellow dorso-lateral stripes on the frog, one on each side, starting on the snout and running through the eye, then down the back. This stripe often has has a darkened edge to it. In some members of this species the stripe is absent. "Semidiscus", the species name, refers to its incomplete throat disc.

The Yellow-Striped Reed Frog is typical of its family and genus in that it can be found along the banks of rivers and other standing bodies of water of lowland savannas. It lives in reeds and other dense vegetation at the water's edge. It is at the bases of these plants that this species lays and attaches its eggs. Eggs can be laid up to 50 mm (2 inches) below the water's surface, with a clutch size of 30.

Under the IUCN's Red List, this species' status is listed as least concern (LC), meaning they are common, but their numbers are being drastically reduced by subsistence farming where cows are grazing close to streams, thereby spoiling the water and preventing eggs from developing into tadpoles (Wolfgang Ochojski, 2009).

In captivity, it can be kept like any other tree frog. A semi-aquatic set-up, with branches and plants on which to climb, would be ideal for this species.

References

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

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©2010 Kurt Kunze

Edited by John P. Clare - Last updated 23rd February 2010.

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.