Uperoleia aspera

Conservation Status

Calling Period

Description

A small species of frog reaching up to 3.5 cm in body length. It has a dark brown back, with black spots. The tops of the arms at the shoulder are pale brown-yellow. The belly is white on the upper half and pink on the lower half; the male has a grey throat. The pupil is horizontal, and the iris is gold. The groin and the backs of the thighs are bright red. Fingers are unwebbed and toes are slightly webbed, both without discs. The parotoid glands are large and pale brown-yellow.

Breeding Biology

Eggs are unknown, but are likely to be similar to other species of Uperoleia and laid in ponds and ditches in flooded grassland. Tadpoles can reach a total length of 3 cm, and are gold in colour, with a black tail tip. They often remain at the bottom of water bodies. It is unknown how long they take to develop into frogs. Breeds during summer in the wet season.

Similar Species

Looks very similar to Uperoleia mjobergii and Uperoleia talpa in its distribution, but lacks distinct pairs of nearly symmetrical brown patches between the eyes, and on the middle and lower back as present in Uperoleia mjobergii and Uperoleia talpa is generally larger and has a different back colour. Also looks similar to Uperoleia borealis, Uperoleia minima, and Uperoleia stridera in its distribution, but has a different call to all except Uperoleia stridera, which is slightly smaller and has rougher skin.