Hyperolius marmoratus
Painted Reed Frogs, also known as Marbled Reed Frogs, are tiny little amphibians, growing to a maximum length of 33mm (females are slightly larger than males). As their name suggest, they inhabit reeds and other emergent vegetation around ponds, pans and riverbanks in forests, savanna, grassland and to a lesser extent fynbos. They feed entirely on insects and other invertebrates.
By day Painted Reed Frogs hide in dense plant material (when exposed to sunlight during the day they turn pale grey to white) to emerge at dusk, the males giving voice to their short, high-pitched chirps in large choruses in the breeding season that spans spring and summer. Females can lay several clutches of between 150 and 650 eggs in a season, roughly a month apart. Once fertilised, their eggs are attached to submerged plants. The eggs hatch after about 5 days, and by 8 weeks old the metamorphosis from tadpole to frog is complete.
In South Africa, three races of the Painted Reed Frog is distributed from the lowveld of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, through Kwazulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape to the Cape Peninsula. They seem to be expanding their range is recent times, and at least some of this may be due to assisted translocations by humans moving plants from nurseries in their native range to other localities. Painted Reed Frogs are also found in Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. The IUCN considers the species to be of least concern.
DeWetsWild 
Wow, fascinating! I always get excited when I see a frog in time to photograph it. It’s so easy to miss! But I guess that’s the whole key to its survival!
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That’s our experience as well – photographing frogs and toads are difficult enough, not to mention finding one to begin with!
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He’s so tiny. 😀 😀
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They quite easily go unnoticed, Cee, especially when they remain quiet!
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Cuties!
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Aren’t they just!?
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Dis die pragtigste dingetjie! Uitstekende foto’s en inligting, dankie,Dries.Wanneer vertrek julle?
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Baie dankie Dina!
As als volgens plan verloop ry ons vroeg more-oggend deur Augrabies toe, en dan Maandag Twee Rivieren toe van daar af.
Wanneer kom julle terug van Swakopmund af?
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Ons ry Maandag, slaap oor in Botswana en sal Dinsdag laat tuis wees. Dis amper 2000 km. Julle moet veilig ry en elke oomblik geniet. Ek kan nie wag vir jou foto’s nie!
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Geniet jul laaste paar dae aan die Namibkus en kom veilig tuis!
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That first shot is exquisite.
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Thanks very much, Tish!
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Ha! Cousins to the ‘ghost’ in my garden! I once found one curled up inside a teapot on my kitchen windowsill 🙂
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They’re actually really beautiful and cute, and not at all the cold and slimy things many believe frogs are.
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Very cute and small frogs! Our smallest is European tree frog. It can be 5 cm long and live for 9 years in the wild. In captivity they have become 22 years old!
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These guys make up for their small bodies with huge voices!
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I would love to get some frog photos. I can hear them but can’t see them. 🙂
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I am colour blind, so I find it very difficult to see them if they sit still!
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They’re pretty with those stripes. Interesting that they will change color that way.
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I think frogs are fascinating creatures, and I admit I know very little of them – so I bought myself an excellent guide book and now will try “frogging” as a new pastime!
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