Republic of South Africa
Checklist of Endemic Amphibian Species
This list of amphibian species found exclusively in the Republic of South Africa is based on the taxonomy used in Frost (2004). For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.
Frost, D.R. (2004) Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. 3.0 (22 August 2004). American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA.
The current version of this electronic database is accessible here
Arthroleptis wahlbergii (Anura - Arthroleptidae) Bush Squeaker
Bufo amatolicus (Anura - Bufonidae) Amatola Toad
Bufo angusticeps (Anura - Bufonidae) Sand Toad
Bufo pantherinus (Anura - Bufonidae) Western Leopard Toad
Bufo pardalis (Anura - Bufonidae) Eastern Leopard Toad
Capensibufo rosei (Anura - Bufonidae) Rose's Mountain Toad
Capensibufo tradouwi (Anura - Bufonidae) Tradouw's Mountain Toad
Heleophryne hewitti (Anura - Heleophrynidae) Hewitt's Ghost Frog
Heleophryne orientalis (Anura - Heleophrynidae) Eastern Ghost Frog
Heleophryne purcelli (Anura - Heleophrynidae) Purcell's Ghost Frog
Heleophryne regis (Anura - Heleophrynidae) Royal Ghost Frog
Heleophryne rosei (Anura - Heleophrynidae) Table Mountain Ghost Frog
Hemisus guttatus (Anura - Hemisotidae) Spotted Snout-burrower
Afrixalus knysnae (Anura - Hyperoliidae) Knysna Spiny Reed Frog
Afrixalus spinifrons (Anura - Hyperoliidae) Natal Banana Frog
Hyperolius horstockii (Anura - Hyperoliidae) Arum Lily Reed Frog
Hyperolius pickersgilli (Anura - Hyperoliidae) Pickersgill's Reed Frog
Leptopelis natalensis (Anura - Hyperoliidae) Forest Tree Frog
Leptopelis xenodactylus (Anura - Hyperoliidae) Long-toed Tree Frog
Breviceps acutirostris (Anura - Microhylidae) Strawberry Rain Frog
Breviceps bagginsi (Anura - Microhylidae) Bilbo's Rain Frog
Breviceps fuscus (Anura - Microhylidae) Black Rain Frog
Breviceps gibbosus (Anura - Microhylidae) Giant Rain Frog
Breviceps maculatus (Anura - Microhylidae) Spotted Rain Frog
Breviceps montanus (Anura - Microhylidae) Cape Mountain Rain Frog
Breviceps rosei (Anura - Microhylidae) Rose's Rain Frog
Breviceps sylvestris (Anura - Microhylidae) Forest Rain Frog
Anhydrophryne rattrayi (Anura - Petropedetidae) Rattray's Frog
Arthroleptella bicolor (Anura - Petropedetidae) Bainskloof Moss Frog
Arthroleptella drewesii (Anura - Petropedetidae) Drewes' Moss Frog
Arthroleptella hewitti (Anura - Petropedetidae) Natal Moss Frog
Arthroleptella landdrosia (Anura - Petropedetidae) Landdros Moss Frog
Arthroleptella lightfooti (Anura - Petropedetidae) Lightfoot's Moss Frog
Arthroleptella ngongoniensis (Anura - Petropedetidae) Mistbelt Moss Frog
Arthroleptella subvoce (Anura - Petropedetidae) Winterhoek Moss Frog
Arthroleptella villiersi (Anura - Petropedetidae) De Villier's Moss Frog
Cacosternum capense (Anura - Petropedetidae) Cape Dainty Frog
Cacosternum karooicum (Anura - Petropedetidae) Karoo Dainty Frog
Cacosternum platys (Anura - Petropedetidae) Smooth Dainty Frog
Cacosternum poyntoni (Anura - Petropedetidae) Poynton's Dainty Frog
Cacosternum striatum (Anura - Petropedetidae) Striped Dainty Frog
Microbatrachella capensis (Anura - Petropedetidae) Micro Frog
Natalobatrachus bonebergi (Anura - Petropedetidae) Boneberg's Frog
Poyntonia palludicola (Anura - Petropedetidae) Montane Marsh Frog
Xenopus gilli (Anura - Pipidae) Cape Platanna
Afrana vandijki (Anura - Ranidae) Van Dijk's River Frog
Strongylopus bonaespei (Anura - Ranidae) Banded Stream Frog
Strongylopus springbokensis (Anura - Ranidae) Namaqua Stream Frog
Strongylopus wageri (Anura - Ranidae) Wager's Stream Frog
Tomopterna delalandii (Anura - Ranidae) Delalande's Sand Frog
Additional endemic amphibian species that were recognized as distinct species too recently to be included in Frost (2004) are given below. This list is primarily based on information from the IUCN Red List (here) and the current version of the Amphibian Species of the World database (here) and includes species described through 2008. In addition to the 50 endemic amphibian species listed above, the additional 2 species listed below gives a total of 52 species of amphibians known solely from the Republic of South Africa.
Poyntonophrynus vertebralis (Anura - Bufonidae) Southern Pygmy Toad 1842
Arthroleptella rugosa (Anura - Pyxicephalidae) Rough Moss Frog 2008