The dorsum of adult A. dorsalis is dark with a pattern of silver-white, typically "consisting of a triangle on top of the snout continuing into a broad dorsolateral stripe to the groin. A light spot in the lumbar region, sometimes confluent with the dorsolateral stripes, and two light spots on tibia, or tibia uniformly light" (Schiøtz, 1999). Individuals within some populations can be variably patterned with a light mid-dorsal stripe or a uniform light dorsum.

Author(s): Zimkus, Breda

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A. dorsalis adult males are typically in the range of 25 to 28 millimetres (snout-vent length); adult females correspondingly achieve a snout-vent length of 26 to 29 millimetres (Schiøtz, 1999).

Author(s): Hogan, C.Michael

Rights holder(s): Hogan, C.Michael

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The following is from the original description by Peters (1875):

Hyperolius dorsalis Schlegel

Unter dem obigen Namen hat das Berliner zoologische Museum vor mehreren Jahren durch Hrn. Schlegel eine Art aus Boutry erhalten, von der in Victoria in einem Wassertümpel mehrere Exemplare gefunden wurden. Sie ist sehr nahe verwandt durch die Körpergestalt, das versteckte kleine Trommelfell, die senkrechte Pupille und selbst durch die Farbung mit H. Fornasinii Bianconi. Die beiden silberigen Seitenbinden fliessen mit einem Dreieck auf der Schnauze und zwischen den Augen zusammen und auf der Sacralgegend befindet sich ein grosser silberiger Fleck, der nach bin ten spitz endigt. Auf dem Unterschenkel zwei und auf dem Vorderarm ein oder zwei silberige Querbinden oder Flecke. Die Grundfarbe der Oberseite ist dunkel olivenbraun oder rothbraun (im Leben gelbgriin), mehr oder weniger deutlich mit silberigen Körnchen, so wie die silberigen Binden mehr oder weniger, dunkle Punkte zeigen, wie bei Hyperolius Fomasinii. Bei einem Exemplare fliessen die Seitenbinden auf dem Rücken zusammen. Das Männchen hat eine grosse Schallblase. Die Unterseite ist weisslich, die Kehle glatt, der Bauch granulirt.

Under the name above, the Berlin Zoological Museum received several years ago from Mr. Schlegel, specimens from Boutry, Victoria, several individuals that were in a pool of water.  It is very similar to H. fornasinii (Bianconi) in body shape, the small hidden typanum, the vertical pupil and even in coloration. The two silvery sides flow together into a triangle on the nose, and between the eyes and on the sacral region is a large silvery spot. The snout ends in a pointed manner. On the lower leg and two on the forearms are two silvery transverse markings or spots. The basic color of the upper side is dark olive brown or reddish-brown color (yellow-green in life), more or less uniform. Silvery granules appear more or less like the silvery stripe, dark spots, as in Hyperolius fomasinii with a series of side binding markings. The male has a loud call. The underside is whitish, throat smooth, the belly granular. (Translation of original German text by B. Zimkus)

Author(s): Zimkus, Breda

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A. dorsalis is typically found in grassy vegetation, cultivated land, bush land and degraded forest in the forest belt and in forest outliers and gallery forests in moist savanna. It is rather adaptable as to habitat, but requires some type of sheltering cover. The species does not occur in primary rainforest (Schiøtz et al., 2009)

Author(s): Hogan, C.Michael

Rights holder(s): Hogan, C.Michael

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The IUCN suggests that populations of A. dorsalis are actually increasing due to the fact that this species may be a beneficiary of the widespread ongoing deforestation in its range (Schiøtz et al. 2009) In Angola, the situation may be more complex. World Wildlife and Hogan (2007) discuss the inherent risks to the species populations within the Angolan Miombo woodlands ecoregion due to the almost four decade long warfare in Angola. On the other hand, the same paper acknowledges the widespread slash-and-burn deforestation, a practice that diminishes forests in favour of grassland, and could be benefical to A. dorsalis.

Author(s): Hogan, C.Michael

Rights holder(s): Hogan, C.Michael

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The herpetofauna of the region is only moderately species-rich; for example, there are two associate strict-endemic frog species in the Angolan Miombo woodlands ecoregion: the Angola Ornate Frog (Hildbrandtia ornatissima) and the Anchieta's Treefrog (Leptopelis anchietae), and one other near-endemic frog, the Luita River Reed Frog (Hyperolius vilhenai). Among the reptiles, there are strictly endemic species, including Bocage’s Horned Adder (Bitis heraldica). The upland areas of Angola such as the Bié Plateau, which form the heart of the Angolan Miombo ecoregion, do not appear to be notable centers of reptile or amphibian endemism. Most of the herpetofauna is shared with the broader miombo region (World Wildlife Fund & Hogan, 2007).

Author(s): Hogan, C.Michael

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Eggs are deposited on folded leaves above still water, and tadpoles drop into ponds, puddles, ditches, ruts and herbaceous marshes where they develop (Schiøtz et al. 2009).

Author(s): Zimkus, Breda

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The IUCN lists this anuran as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of habitat modification, presumed large population, and because it is deemed by the IUCN as not likely  to be declining sufficiently to qualify for listing in a more threatened category (Schiøtz et al., 2009). However, the Angolan population is more precarious, since some consider the Angolan occurrences as disjunctive from each other and from the larger northerly populations. Furthermore, the prolonged strife in Angola has exacerbated habitat protection (World Wildlife Fund & Hogan, 2007) and the ability to properly survey the Angolan anuran populations.

Author(s): Hogan, C.Michael

Rights holder(s): Hogan, C.Michael

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As of 2009, the IUCN did not acknowledge threats to A. dorsalis (Schiøtz et al. 2009). However, the expanding human population in the region is an inherent threat to anurans. Moreover, WWF and Hogan have described the particular threats in Angola due to fragmented populations of A. dorsalis and the 39 year warfare that hinders Angolan conservation work (World Wildlife Fund & Hogan, 2007).

Author(s): Hogan, C.Michael

Rights holder(s): Hogan, C.Michael

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This anuran is found in the protected area of Kyabobo National Park (Leaché et al. 2006) within the Togo Hills of Ghana. The species is likely to occur in other protected areas, but no protected areas in Angola are thought to be applicable due to the protracted military actions and instability in that country starting in 1974.

Author(s): Hogan, C.Michael

Rights holder(s): Hogan, C.Michael

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