Frogs of the Western Cape
Arthroleptella: The Moss Frogs
De Villier’s Moss Frog
Species name: Arthroleptella villiersi
Etymology: named after Cornelius de Villiers, Professor of Zoology at Stellenbosch University: 1923 - 1959
Other names: De Villier’s mospadda, De Villier’s Chirping frog
Year described: Hewitt, 1935
IUCN conservation status: Least Concern
Description
General appearance: larger body, longer limbs and more pointed snout relative to other Moss frog species; females 22mm, males 20mm.
Above: coloration highly variable, ranging from brown to mustard to rust; large pale bands usually present, running from snout backwards; vertebral line common.
Below: underside dark in males with degree of paler mottling, immaculate cream in females.
Fore-limbs: thin, toe-tips not expanded.
Hind-limbs: thin, finger-tips not expanded.
Call(s): 2-3 short chirps.
Tadpole: see genus account.
Distribution
The most widespread species in genus. Its distribution is well understood, extending from Paarl Mountain in the north-west, to Bredasdorp in the south-east. Found at sea level, along the coast from Rooiels to Kleinmond, altitudes exceeding 1800m. Locally abundant. Co-occurs with A. landdrosia, A. kogelbergensis,A.drewesii and A. atermina within their own distributions. These species all produce a click call, and thus are easily distinguishable from A. villiersi whoses choruses consist of soft chirps. ### Habitat {.unnumbered}
Found in a wide variety of habitat types, including seepages, riverbanks, and drainage lines. Present in mountainous areas and in coastal lowlands like the Agulhas Plain. A. villiersi differs from other Moss frogs in its range through its preference for more open habitats on gentle gradients. It does not require the well vegetated seepages that most other species require. A.villiersi is often absent from cliff faces and steep embankments. Tolerant of invasive alien vegetation and light habitat modification.
Life History
Calling occurs throughout much of the year, but declines during the driest summer months from December to March. Breeding activity resumes after the first winter rains. Males call whilst concealed within the vegetation. A. villiersi is well adapted to wildfires, with large choruses being heard in the first post-fire winter. On occasion individuals can be observed moving across exposed areas under rainy conditions.
For a description of their reproduction see the genus account
Cape Peninsula Moss frog
Species name: Arthroleptella lightfooti
Etymology: named after R.M. Lightfoot who worked at the South African Museum
Other names: Lightfoot’s Moss frog, Cape Chirping frog, Skiereiland mospadda (Afr.)
Year described: Boulenger, 1910
IUCN conservation status: Near Threatened
Description
General appearance: one of the larger Moss frog species, with a pointed snout; females 22mm, males 20mm.
Above: coloration uniform but variable, ranging from dark brown to rust to brown-yellow; black blotches of varying degree present on thighs; black facial ‘mask’ present; snout pointed; skin with raised bumps in males, smooth in females.
Below: underside of females cream; throat dark in males with black mottling extending to the belly.
Fore-limbs: legs thin, longer than most Moss frog species; little to slight expansion of the finger tips.
Hind-limbs: arms thin, longer than most Moss frog species; little to slight expansion of the toe tips.
Call(s): chirp with 3-4 pulses
Tadpole: see genus account.
Distribution
Restricted to the Cape Peninsula, from Table Mountain in the north, to the Cape of Good Hope in the south. Much of its range lies within the Table Mountain National Park. A small population present on the southern slopes of Karbonkelberg in Hout Bay. Locally abundant. From 1080m, around Maclear’s Beacon on Table Mountain, to sea level at Cape Point. The majority of populations lie within the Table Mountain Nationl Park. The only Moss frog within their range.
Habitat
Inhabiting a wide variety of wetland and seepage habitats in Mountain Fynbos and Afromontane Forest. A. lightfooti can be heard calling on mountain plateaus, slopes, and wet cliff faces. Able to subsist in areas invaded by alien plants, or that have seen light habitat modification. They can be heard calling from planted areas in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Life History
Calling begins after the first rains, usually in May, and extends into December. Peak calling occurs between July and August, then begin to decline with reduced rainfall. Males call at ground level, or at raised positions within vegetation clumps. Those frogs present in forested ravines may remain active well into the summer, as long as suitable micro habitats remain. For a description of their reproduction see the genus account
Rough Moss frog
Species name: Arthroleptella rugosa
Etymology: ruga meaning rough or wrinkled in Latin, in reference to their particularly rough skin.
Other names: Skurwe mospadda (Afr.)
Year described: Turner & Channing, 2008
IUCN conservation status: Critically Endangered
Description
General appearance: a medium size species of Moss frog with characteristically rough skin, stout with a blunt snout; females 19mm, males 13mm.
Above: dark brown with a varying degree of rust colored patches; glandular protuberances cover the body; white speckles on upper and lower lip.
Below: both males and females have a grey underside with a varying degree of white speckling, a number of black blotches also present; throats dark, especially in breeding males.
Fore-limbs: short, finger-tips not expanded.
Hind-limbs: short, toe-tips not expanded.
Call(s): two advertisement calls, one a brief squeaky chirp and the second a chuckle. There is also an interaction call which consists of rapid pulses often made when another male has called in close proximity.
Tadpole: see genus account.
Distribution
Restricted to the slopes of the Kleinswartberg near Caledon (Not to be confused with the Klein Swartberg of the Klein Karoo). Much of its range has been reduced by the invasion of alien trees into their breeding habitat. Locally abundant. The only Moss frog in its range. 300-900m.
Habitat
Seepages and vegetated streams on the slopes of the Kleinswartberg, favoring seepages with sparse low growing vegetation. Most of its breeding habitat has been invaded by alien pine trees, leading to local population declines as a result of reduced soil moisture content and altered stream morphology.
Life History
Calling begins with the first winter rains in May, and extends into December. Where habitat is in good condition, males can form large choruses consisting of hundreds of individuals. Call sites are close to the ground, often at the base of a restio. Aggression calls can often be heard when two or more males are present within close proximity to one another. Egg clumps are laid near the main seepage area within moss and damp vegetation, often at the base of restio. Males have been found calling within the egg masses themselves. For a description of their reproduction see the genus account
Bainskloof Moss frog
Species name: Arthroleptella bicolor
Etymology: bicolor meaning ‘two colours’, in reference to their dark dorsum which contrasts the pale underside seen in female specimens.
Other names: Bainskloof-mospadda (Afr.), Bainskloof Chirping frog
Year described: Hewitt, 1926
IUCN conservation status: Least Concern
Description
General appearance: one of the larger species of Moss frogs, squat with a rounded snout; females 22mm, males 20mm.
Above: coloration highly variable; usually brown to brown-orange or rust, pale and darkly colored specimens occur, often covered in irregular black blotches, sides pale; vertebral line sometimes present; dark band running from snout through eye to top of arm; tympanum small but visible.
Below: black mottling on a pale underside, darker in males; breeding males with black throats.
Fore-limbs: finger-tips slightly expanded.
Hind-limbs: toe-tips slightly expanded.
Call(s): irregular set of clicks.
Tadpole: see genus account.
Distribution
Watervalberge, Limietberg, and Slanghoek mountains. From the Klein Berg River in the north to Limietberg in.
Habitat
Montane seepages 500m-1500m on gentle slopes to wet cliff faces and overhangs. Males call from well vegetated seepages, but also in more sparse habitat. ### Life History {.unnumbered}
Breeding begins with the onset of the winter rains, and continues until seepages dry up in the summer months. Males have been observed calling from within egg clumps.
For a description of their reproduction see the genus account
Quiet Moss frog
Species name: Arthroleptella subvoce
Etymology: from Latin; sub = below, vox = voice. In reference to their quiet calls.
Other names: Noordelike mospadda (Afr.), Northern Moss frog.
Year described: Dawood & Channing, 2004
IUCN conservation status: Critically Endangered
Description
General appearance: the smallest of all Moss frog species, with thin limbs and a blunt snout; females 14mm, males 13m.
Above: irregular dark brown blotches on a lighter brown background, sometimes forming dark bands.
Below: underside white, with grey to black speckling; males with grey throats and a slightly darker belly.
Fore-limbs: upper surface orange; toe-tips not expanded.
Hind-limbs: same colour as dorsum; finger-tips not expanded.
Call(s): a quiet chirp followed by several clicks.
Tadpole: see genus account.
Distribution
Restricted to the southern section of the Grootwinterhoek Wilderness Area. Known from only three localities despite the abundance of seemingly appropriate habitat. The quite nature of their calls, in conjunction with the rugged terrain in which they occur, makes surveying for them particularly challenging. Highly localised, small populations. The only Moss frog in their range. 700-1000m.
Drakenstein Moss frog
Species name: Arthroleptella draconella
Etymology: from Latin, draco = dragon. In reference to the Klein Drakenstein mountains where the species is found. Drakenstein (Afr.) translates to dragon-stone.
Other names: Drakenstein mospadda (Afr.)
Year described: Turner & Channing, 2017
IUCN conservation status: Not Evaluated
Description
General appearance: squat with a rounded snout, similar in appearance to A. bicolor; females 14mm, males 14mm.
Above: copper to dark brown covered with a degree of darker blotching, dark band sometimes present behind eye; tympanum visible in some specimens.
Below: underside grey with a degree of mottling,
Fore-limbs: fingers short and tips slightly expanded, upper arm often orange.
Hind-limbs: toes short and tips sligtly expanded.
Call(s): A set of clicks
Tadpole: see genus account.
Riviersonderend Moss frog
Species name: Arthroleptella atermina
Etymology: atermina from aeternus, meaning ‘eternal’ in Latin. In reference to Riviersonderend, meaning ‘a river without end’.
Other names: Riviersonderend mospadda (Afr.)
Year described: Turner & Channing, 2017
IUCN conservation status: Not Evaluated
Description
General appearance: one of the smaller species of Moss frog, snout pointed; size of females unknown, males 16mm.
Above: coloration variable, from dark brown to rust to mustard, often with lighter sides; pale bar on head between eyes.
Below: belly and throat black in breeding males, white in females.
Fore-limbs: finger-tips expanded
Hind-limbs: toes long with toe-tips expanded
Call(s): A short series of clicks
Tadpole: see genus account.
Landdroskop Moss frog
Species name: Arthroleptella landdrosia
Etymology: landrosia in reference to Landdroskop, the type locality.
Other names: Landrosskop mosspadda (Afr.)
Year described: Dawood & Channing, 1994
IUCN conservation status: Near Threatened
Description
General appearance: one of the smaller Moss frog species, snout rounded; females 15mm, males 15mm.
Above: coloration variable, from rust to mustard to grey, white speckling covers body; a black stripe runs behind the eye towards base of fore-limb.
Below: belly and throat black in breeding males, white in females.
Fore-limbs: finger-tips expanded
Hind-limbs: toes-tips expanded
Call(s): protracted series of clicks, varies substantially across its range.
Tadpole: see genus account.
Distribution
Hottentots-Holland and surrounding mountain ranges, from Simonsberg in the north-west to Houwhoek Mountain in the south-east. It co-occurs with A. villiersi throughout much of its range, except at Simonsberg where it is the only Moss frog species present.
Kogelberg Moss frog
Species name: Arthroleptella kogelbergensis
Etymology: kogelbergensis in reference to the Kogelberg, wherein much of its range lies.
Other names: Kogelberg mospadda (Afr.)
Year described: Turner & Channing, 2017
IUCN conservation status: Not Evaluated
Description
General appearance: A medium sized species of Moss frog, with a rounded snout; females 20mm, males 16mm.
Above: coloration variable, blue-grey to rust with dark brown on top; dark band running from behind the eye to base of arm, sometime brocken; vertebral stripe sometimes present
Below: belly and throat black in breeding males, immaculate white in females
Fore-limbs: finger-tips expanded
Hind-limbs: toe-tips expanded
Call(s): a series of high pitched clicks
Tadpole: see genus account.
Distribution
Slopes of Kogelberg and Koeelberg, an isolated population also present in Bettys Bay. Co-occurs with A. villiersi throughout much of its range. Highly localised, small populations. 60m to altitudes above 1000m.
Habitat
Requires well developed montane seeps with thick vegetation and dense moss beds. Clear habitat partitioning is found between and A. kogelbergensis and A. villiersi, where A. kogelbergensis is often absent from the more sparce vegetation that A. villiersi prefers.
Life History
Poorly understood, but likely similar to other Moss frogs in the click group. Males have been found calling in raised positions within the vegetation. Sensitive to wildfires, with local extinctions having occurred in disjunct populations.
For a description of their reproduction see the genus account
Drewes’ Moss frog
Species name: Arthroleptella drewesii
Etymology: named after Dr. Robert Drewes who collected the type specimen.
Other names: Drewes se mospadda (Afr.)
Year described: Channing & Dawood, 1994
IUCN conservation status: Near Threatened
Description
General appearance: One of the larger species of Moss frogs, with a rounded snout. Males: 15mm, Females: 20mm.
Above: coloration variable, blue-grey to rust with dark brown on top; sides paler, often with white speckling; dark band running from behind the eye to base of arm; vertebral stripe sometimes present
Below: belly and throat black in breeding males, white in females.
Fore-limbs: finger-tips expanded
Hind-limbs: toe-tips expanded
Call(s): A long series of clicks
Tadpole: see genus account.
