Frogs Of Durban

Durban is well known for its warm sub tropical climate, with high rain fall and humidity making it a perfect environment for a plethora of amphibian species. With around 30 species of frogs and toads found within the Durban area many of which are commonly found in suburban gardens, ponds and nature reserves.

Frogs have long been known as great environmental indicators showing the health of a local ecosystem, being sensitive to climatic changes and a heightened sensitivity to chemical presence and water quality. Amphibians play an important role in the environment by providing food for numerous animals such as snakes, birds as well as various small mammals.

Afrixalus delicatus – Delicate Leaf-Folding Frog

Afrixalus fornasinii – Greater Leaf-Folding Frog

Afrixalus fornasinii

Afrixalus spinifrons – Natal Leaf-Folding Frog

Afrixalus-spinifrons_Tyrone_Ping_2016_WM2

Hyperolius marmoratus marmoratus – Painted Reed Frog

Hyperolius pickersgilli – Pickersgill’s Reed frog

Hyperolius pickersgilli_Pickersgils_Reed Frog_Tyrone_Ping_2017-5

Hyperolius tuberilinguis – Tinker Reed Frog

Hyperolius tuberilinguis_Tinker Reed Frog_Tyrone_Ping_2019

Hyperolius pusillus – Water Lilly Frog

Hyperolius argus – Argus Reed Frog

Hyperolius argus | Argus Reed Frog | Tyrone Ping

Hyperolius semidiscus – Yellow Striped-Reed Frog

Leptopelis natalensis – Natal Forest-Tree Frog

Leptopelis-natalensis_Natal_Forest_Tree_Frog

Natalobatrachus bonebergi – Kloof Frog

Natalobatrachus bonebergi_ Tyrone Ping

Hadromoprhyne natalensis – Natal Cascade Frog

Hadromophryne natalensis_Tyrone_Ping_2017

Arthroleptis wahlbergii – Bush Squeaker

Arthroleptis wahlbergii

Phrynobatrachus natalensis – Snoring Puddle Frog

Phrynobatrachus-natalensis_Tyrone_Ping_2016WM

Tomopterna natalensis – Natal Sand Frog

Tomopterna-natalensis_Lisbon_Tyrone_Ping_WM1

Kassina senegalensis – Bubbling Kassina

Kassina senegalensis - Bubbling Kassina

Breviceps adspersus – Bushveld Rain Frog

Breviceps adspersus_

Breviceps verrucosus – Plaintive Rain Frog

Breviceps verrucosus - Plaintive Rain Frog

Hemisus guttatus – Spotted Shovel-Nose Frog

Sclerophrys capensis – Raucous Toad

Sclerophrys capensis | Raucous toad | tyrone ping

Sclerophrys gutturalis – Guttural Toad

Sclerophrys_gutturalis - Guttural_Toad_Tyrone_Ping

Schismaderma carens – Red Toad

Schismaderma-carens_Tyrone_Ping_2016-2WM

Cacosternum boettgeri – Boetgers Caco

Cacosternum boettgeri _ tyrone Ping

Cacosternum nanum – Bronze Caco

Cacosternum_nanum_Tyrone_Ping_2016-5WM

Cacosternum nanogularum – KwaZulu Caco

Cacosternum nanogularum - Kwazulu Caco

Amietia delalandii – Common River Frog

Common_River_Frog_Amietia delalandii_Tyrone_Ping_2018-4

Strongylopus fasciatus – Striped Stream Frog

Strongylopus_fasciatus_Striped-Stream-Frog_-Mtunzini,-Kwa-Zulu-Natal

Strongylopus grayii – Clicking Stream Frog

Strongylopus grayii | Clicking_Stream_Frog | Tyrone Ping

Ptychadena oxyrhynchus – Sharp Nosed Grass Frog

Sharp nosed Grass Frog_Ptychadena oxyrhynchus_Tyrone_Ping_2019

Xenopus laevis – Common Platanna

Common Platanna Xenopus laevis Tyrone Ping South Africa

It can be clearly seen from the above that the Frogs of Durban are incredibly variable and many are specifically adapted to thrive in a niche environment, from reeds, waterfalls and suburban gardens. It is important to note there are no dangerous or poisonous frogs that can cause a person any harm simply by touching them in the whole of Durban.

Read more about the Snakes of Durban.

Tyrone Ping
Durban
084 4922 542

by Tyrone Ping

16 thoughts on “Frogs Of Durban

  1. mel says:

    I live in Hillcrest, KZN, and have recent nights been kept awake by a drawn out whistling sound of increasing intensity repeated at regular intervals. Our estate/complex is quite heavily wooded, & with recent heavy rains I’m sure amphibians/frogs are very active. Having researched the internet, the nearest matching call I found was a Desert Rain Frog, genus Breviceps. Now, do all frogs of this genus have a similar call since you list a Plaintive Rain Frog as a resident of the greater Durban area which seems more likely? Before I complain to my neighbour about his security/burglar alarm system, may be you could corroborate my suspicions re, frog sounds, tks.

  2. Debbie Duff says:

    I have a tree frog in my bathroom in bothas hill
    It is big for a tree frog
    It is brown and pale pink
    Do you know what type it is and why it is in my bathroom

  3. Ingrid says:

    Your photos are great. Kindly advise which frogs in kzn are threatened by pollution etc. I am doing research for a PhD in art and my focus at this point is eco art and how it can be used to spark public awareness

  4. Anne says:

    Hi Tyrone
    I wonder if you can help me, please? We live in the southern suburbs in Cape Town, and in recent years, our garden (which has a pond), has been ‘invaded’ by what I have identified as the Painted Reed Frog from Natal.

    Apart from the fact that they apparently have a negative effect on our local arum lily frogs, their extremely loud and piercing whistles from September to November/December (sometimes longer), which start in the late afternoon and go on till late at night, are quite deafening, to the extent that even our neighbours are complaining! For some reason, even though their gardens also have ponds, they have not attracted these frogs.

    I love frogs (we have several other species in our garden), but it is becoming increasingly difficult to live with these little characters! I wonder if you could perhaps suggest any environmentally friendly method of removing them?

    Thanks and regards
    Anne

    • Tyrone Ping says:

      Hi Anne,

      The Painted Reed Frogs are naturally found in the Western Cape and don’t particularly pose much of a menace to the Arum Lilly Frogs. Unfortunately the only way to rid an area of frogs would be to remove the water source and even then unfortunately is not a sure set way as they don’t need a permanent water source to survive.

      • Anne says:

        Hi Tyrone, belated thanks for your reply (sorry have been out of email contact).
        Many thanks for the info, I suppose we will just have to continue to live with these very noisy little frogs!
        Kind regards
        Anne

  5. Kaitlyn says:

    Hi there. My sister found a brownish looking frog/toad in Bellaire. I’m not sure if it’s a guttural toad, raucous toad, natal sand frog or bush squeaker

    • Tyrone Ping says:

      The structure of the feet, legs and toes is totally different. Reed frogs are much smaller and abundant where is the Tree Frogs are larger and far fewer species present.

  6. Don Munro says:

    Hi Tyrone,
    A shiny green on beige frog arrived on my window sill on the KZN South coast(Pumula), near Hibberdene, can you help please with identifying? Thanks in advance.

  7. Don Munro says:

    Hi Tyrone, the only one that matches is the Natal Forest Tree Frog. From Umhlali, KwaZulu Natal, but is a shiny sandy/beige with bright green markings

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