Common River Frog

Afrikaans name: Gewone Rivierpadda

Common River Frog

Photo © Steven Herbert

Rana angolensis

The Common River Frog is apparently identical to the Drakensburg River Frog and can only be separated by their calls. (Frogs are such noisy creatures but I bet if you are waiting for one of these to call he will just look at you and keep quiet...). They are also similar to the Cape River Frog.

Their call consists of a rattling noise followed by a croak. When calling they may either be half-submerged or concealed.

These frogs may be found in streams in grassland as well as a variety of permanent bodies of water.

The Common River Frog is an attractive species but they don't always have the green stripe down their backs.

It occurs across most of South Africa other than the western extremes of the country from Cape Town to south of the Orange River.

When the light is bright their eyes are horizontally elliptical.

Photo © Steven Herbert

References and further reading

Suburban Wildlife in KZN - Author: Dr. Jason Londt - Published: 2009 - Page: 98

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 87

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 258

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 71

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 221

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 405

Sasol First Field Guide to Frogs of Southern Africa - Author: Vincent Carruthers - Published: 2012 - Page: 38

South African Frogs - Author: Passmore & Carruthers - Published: 1979 - Page: 130

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 250

Frogs & Toads of the Natal Drakensberg - Author: AJL Lambiris - Published: 1988 - Page: 26

Frogs & Frogging in South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Vincent Carruthers - Published: 2001 - Page: 79

Frogs & Frogging in South Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Vincent Carruthers and Louis du Preez - Published: 2011 - Page: 85

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 74

Field Guide to the Frogs & Toads of the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site - Author: Conradie, Du Preez, Smith and Weldon - Published: 2006 - Page: 36

A complete guide to the Frogs of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: L du Preez & V Carruthers - Published: 2009 - Page: 396

A Field Guide to the Eastern Cape Coast - Author: R. Lubke, F. Gess & M. Bruton - Published: 1988 - Page: 253

FrogMAP

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