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Home › Amphibia › Ranidae › Golden-backed Frog (Hylarana aurantiaca)

SPECIES PROFILE

Golden-backed Frog (Hylarana aurantiaca)

Hylarana

IUCN STATUS

Least Concern

paw print_edited.png
Golden-backed Frog (Hylarana aurantiaca) — Coastal East Africa

CONSERVATION STATUS

Least Concern

CLASS

Amphibia

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE

Coastal East Africa

DIET

Carnivorous

HABITAT

East African coastal forests, wetlands

🔬 Classification

PHYLUM

Chordata

CLASS

Amphibia

ORDER

Anura

FAMILY

Ranidae

GENUS

Hylarana

📋 Description

SIZE

4-6 cm, 10-20 g

COLORATION

Green with golden dorsal stripe

ADAPTATIONS

Agile jumper; webbed feet

🌿 Ecology

HABITAT

East African coastal forests, wetlands

DIET

Carnivorous

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Coastal East Africa

REPRODUCTION

Eggs in water; tadpoles develop rapidly

DIET DETAILS

Insects

⚠️ Threats & Conservation

PRIMARY THREATS

Habitat loss

💡 Interesting Facts

1

Golden Guides: Their striking golden stripe isn't just pretty, it helps them blend into sunlit reeds, confusing predators while they hunt at night with keen precision. This dual-purpose marking makes them elusive gems of coastal forests.

2

Rapid Breeders: They lay eggs that hatch into tadpoles within days, thriving in temporary pools where quick development outpaces drying or predation. This speed ensures their survival in the unpredictable wet-dry cycles of East Africa.

🔭 Sighting Guide

📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT

Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya

Jozani Forest, Tanzania (Zanzibar)

Shimba Hills National Reserve, Kenya

🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT

March-May: Wet season triggers breeding, with frogs active near streams.

🎯 SIGHTING TIPS

Join night tours with guides to spot frogs near streams or in leaf litter.

🏨 Where to Stay
📍
Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya
Kenya
📍
Jozani Forest, Tanzania (Zanzibar)
Tanzania
📍
Shimba Hills National Reserve, Kenya
Kenya
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