Fornasini

[Heberto Calderon]

Afrixalusfornasini is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae and is native to Africa. Its common name is Fornasini's spiny reed frog[2] or the greater leaf-folding frog[3]

It is found in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa and possibly Eswatini. Its natural habitats are temperate forest, subtropical or tropical dry forest, dry savanna, moist savanna, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, temperate grassland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, water storage areas, and ponds.

Both male and female Afrixalus fornasinii adults prey on grey foam-nest tree frog eggs and tadpoles. This species is the first African anuran to demonstrate hetero-cannibalism by preying on eggs belonging to the same family.[5]

The camouflage mechanism used by the species provided compelling[6] evidence for evolution by natural selection. The zoologist Hugh Cott's drawings and description of the frog's "coincident disruptive coloration" showed that its pattern, forming bold stripes on the legs and body, lined up (coincided) exactly when the legs were tightly folded into the body at rest, effectively disrupting its outline. The zoologists I. C. Cuthill and A. Szkely noted that the way the configuration works indicates that it must have survival value, implying natural selection at work.[6]

Breeding begins in late September, and large choruses have been recorded in December and January. During the breeding season, A. fornasinii inhabits stagnant water bodies containing large stands of saw grass (Cyperus immensus) and cattails (Typha latifolia). Males may call from elevated positions on sturdy, broad-leaved vegetation or from reeds; calling begins shortly after sunset and continues until around midnight. The call consists of an initial vibrating pulse followed by a rapid stutter. It has been compared to the sound of a small machine gun (Harper et al. 2010; Encyclopedia of Life, 2012a).

Eggs are laid over permanent water on reeds that are folded and glued over the eggs. Clutches contain approximately 80 unpigmented eggs. Hatching occurs 5 to 10 days later. The tadpoles are long and slender with flattened heads and a total length reaching 65 mm. The larval stage can last 75 days (Encyclopedia of Life, 2012a).

Harper, E.B. G.J. Measey, D.A. Patrick, M. Menegon, and J.R. Vonesh. 2010. Field Guide to Amphibians of the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Tansania and Kenya. Camerapix Publishers International, Nairobi, Kenya.

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Fornasini's Spiny Reed FrogNameFornasini's Spiny Reed FrogScientific NameAfrixalus fornasiniContinentAfricaDietInsectivoreStatusLeast ConcernAfrixalus fornasini is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae and is native to Africa. Its common name is Fornasini's spiny reed frog or the greater leaf-folding frog The specific epithet fornasini is in honour of Italian amateur naturalist Carlo Antonio Fornasini, who collected the type specimen.

Lactoria fornasini is a fish ovipare qui pond en eau libre. always born female. Growing up, individuals will change sex to become male, this is called successive hermaphroditism of the protogynous type.

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