Afrixalus knysnae
Afrixalus knysnae (Loveridge, 1954)
- kingdom Animalia
- phylum Chordata
- class Amphibia
- order Anura
- family Hyperoliidae Laurent, 1943
- genus Afrixalus Laurent, 1944
Original Published Description:
Common Names
Knysna Banana Frog (English), Knysna Spiny Reed Frog (English), Knysna Spiny Leaf-folding Frog (English)
Overview
Distribution
A. knysnae is endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa (Text from Minter et al., 2004, © SI/MAB Biodiversity Program).
Rights holder(s): Burger M., - Comment (0)
Etymology
This species is named for the type locality: Knysna, [Western] Cape Province, South Africa.
Rights holder(s): Zimkus, Breda - Comment (0)
Description
Size
This species ranges from 22–25.2 mm in length (Minter et al., 2004).
Rights holder(s): Burger, M. - Comment (0)
Morphology
The presence of a vertical pupil and minute asperities (spines), distributed uniformly over the dorsal, and posterior ventral skin of the body, and the dorsal skin of the limbs. In A. knysnae the snout is not noticeably swollen or bulbous nor is there a concentration of tubercular asperities in this region, as is the case in most male A. s. spinifrons. The gular disc is smaller and transversely oval to round in A. knysnae whereas, in both subspecies of A. spinifrons, the disc covers most of the gular surface (Text from Minter et al., 2004, © SI/MAB Biodiversity Program).
Rights holder(s): Burger M.; Pickersgill M.; Braack H.H.; Minter, L.R. - Comment (0)
Comparisons
Pickersgill (1996) found that A. knysnae is morphologically similar, and sympatric, to Hyperolius marmoratus and H. horstockii. However A. knysnae has asperities present which make it easier to distinguish from the other two (Text from Minter et al., 2004, © SI/MAB Biodiversity Program).
Rights holder(s): Burger, M.; M. Pickersgill; Braack H.H.; Minter, L.R. - Comment (0)
Ecology
Habitat and Ecology
Branch and Hanekom (1987) noted that A. knysnae inhabits a coastal mosaic of Mountain Fynbos and Afromontane Forest (Text from Minter et al., 2004, © SI/MAB Biodiversity Program).
Rights holder(s): Burger, M.; Pickersgill, M.; Braack H.H.; Minter, L.R. - Comment (0)
Life History
Reproduction
Breeding has not been well researched. The breeding season is suggested to be between October to November. However, juveniles have been collected in early October, for these breeding would have taken place in September. As well breeding activity has been recorded in February (Text modified from Minter et al., 2004, © SI/MAB Biodiversity Program).
Rights holder(s): Burger, M.; Pickersgill, M; Braack H.H.; Minter, L.R. - Comment (0)
Advertisement Call
These calls consisted of two parts: a short “zip” and a longer “trill” (Text from Minter et al., 2004, © SI/MAB Biodiversity Program).
Rights holder(s): Burger M.; Pickersgill M.; Braack H.H.; Minter, L.R. - Comment (0)
Conservation
IUCN Red List Category and Justification of Conservation Status
A. knysnae is considered Endangered due to a severely fragmented range, and a perceived continuing decline in the area of occupancy, numbers of individuals and locations, as well as a decrease in the area and quality of its habitat (Text from Minter et al., 2004, © SI/MAB Biodiversity Program).
Rights holder(s): Burger, M.; Pickersgill, M; Braack H.H.; Minter, L.R. - Comment (0)
Taxonomy
- Hyperolius knysnae Loveridge, 1954 (synonym)
- Afrixalus brachycnemis knysnae — Poynton, 1964 (synonym)
- Afrixalus knysnae — Pickersgill, 1984 (synonym)