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Heleophrynidae - Ghost Frogs

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Heleophrynidae

There are six species in this family of small to medium-sized frogs, They are found on or under the rocks in in fast-moving mountain streams in the southern tip of South Africa.

Ghost frogs have thin skin over their stomachs, and you can see their internal organs and muscles! They have webbed feet, and their toes and fingers have broad tips that they use to cling to slippery rocks. Ghost frogs are around 2.5 inches in length and have flat bodies that make it easy for them to crawl into rocky crevices.

Ghost frog tadpoles have sucker-like mouths that they use to cling to rocks in the rushing water. It takes as long as two years for ghost frog tadpoles to become frogs.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct
Status taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status, or there is no status data for the species.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

New Hampshire Species		North/Central American Species
None		None

Species Around the World
Location Key Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info
Hewitt's Ghost Frog - Heleophryne hewitti Natal Ghost Frog - Heleophryne natalensis Eastern Ghost Frog - Heleophryne orientalis		Purcell's Ghost Frog - Heleophryne purcelli Royal Ghost Frog - Heleophryne regis Table Mountain Ghost Frog - Heleophryne rosei
Additional Information Resource Key Profile Photos Video Audio Eastern Ghost Frog - Heleophryne orientalis The eastern ghost frog is found in the Eastern Langeberg Mountains in South Africa. Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School Hewitt's Ghost Frog - Heleophryne hewitti Hewitt's ghost frog is found in South Africa. Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Hewitt's Ghost Frog - Heleophryne hewitti Hewitt's ghost frog stays hidden in holes or rock crevices during the day. Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Purcell's Ghost Frog - Heleophryne purcelli Purcell's ghost frog is found in the the Western Cape Province in South Africa. Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Purcell's Ghost Frog - Heleophryne purcelli Purcell's ghost frog is found in heathlands and forests. Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School Royal Ghost Frog - Heleophryne regis The royal ghost frog is found in the coastal mountain ranges of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa. Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School Table Mountain Ghost Frog - Heleophryne rosei The Table Mountain ghost frog is found only found on Table Mountain in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Table Mountain Ghost Frog - Heleophryne rosei The Table Mountain ghost frog has a squat body that helps it hide in rock crevices. Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School Table Mountain Ghost Frog - Heleophryne rosei The Table Mountain ghost frog is threatened by disease, the spread of non-native plants, tourism, and fire. Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Heleophrynidae - Ghost Frogs

Classification

New Hampshire Species

North/Central American Species

Species Around the World

Additional Information

Explore the Natural World - Local & National PBS Video