Mascarene grass frog

Introduction: Mascarene Grass frogs (Ptychadena mascareniensis) were first identified in the Mascarene Islands, located east of Madagascar. These frogs use a wide variety of habitats in lowland, wet savannah regions such as marshy areas, the edges of large lakes, rivers and other wetland locations. Frogs emit a jet of water from the bladder when disturbed, before heading into the water or into vegetation.

Distribution: Epupa Falls east to the Kunene River mouth and along the Zambezi Region (formerly the Caprivi Strip).

Diet: Aquatic insects, spiders and earthworms.

Colouration: Brown or green upperparts with some rounded brown or green blotches. There is also a light coloured vertebral band and 6 dorsal skin ridges. The underside is creamy white.

Breeding: Tadpoles grow up to 60mm. Development into frogs takes around 60 days.

Maximum size: 60mm.