''Leptopelis argenteus'', also known as the silvery tree frog or triad tree frog, is a species of

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely Carnivore, carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order (biology), order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-f ...

in the family

Arthroleptidae The Arthroleptidae are a family of frogs found in sub-Saharan Africa. This group includes African treefrogs in the genus ''Leptopelis'' along with the terrestrial breeding squeakers '' Arthroleptis'', and several genera restricted to the Guinea ...

. It is found in coastal

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

and

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...

and south to northern

Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...

, southern

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...

, and eastern highlands of

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...

Taxonomy

This species was described by

Georg Johann Pfeffer Georg Johann Pfeffer (1854–1931) was a German zoologist, primarily a malacologist, a scientist who studies mollusks. Pfeffer was born in Berlin. In 1887 he became curator of the , which was established in 1843 and destroyed during World War II. ...

in 1893 based on a specimen collected south of

Bagamoyo Bagamoyo, is a historic coastal town founded at the end of the 18th century, though it is an extension of a much older (8th century) Swahili settlement, Kaole. It was chosen as the capital of German East Africa by the German colonial administra ...

, Tanzania. Current accounts differ in its delimitation and distribution; the synonyms and distribution in this article follow the Amphibian Species of the World (ASW). However, the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2016) only reports it from Tanzania, possibly extending into Mozambique. The AmphibiaWeb gives a distribution similar to that in ASW, but recognizes '' Leptopelis broadleyi'' as a valid species. Furthermore, '' Leptopelis concolor'' is perhaps

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of ''Leptopelis argenteus''.

Description

Depending on source, males measure in snout–vent length (SVL), or males and females can be as large as SVL, respectively. It resembles '' Leptopelis concolor'' morphologically but differs has two dark dorsolateral stripes and a more diffuse canthal and lateral line. Webbing in the feet is reduced. There is usually a dark triangle between the eyes.

Habitat and conservation

According to the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, this species inhabits

savanna A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to ...

woodland with many trees and bushes. It can survive in altered habitats, provided that good vegetation cover remains. Males call high up in bushes and grasses, also quite far from water. The eggs are laid in a nest buried in mud near water. ''Leptopelis argenteus'' is a common and adaptable species that is not facing any significant threats. It is sometimes present in the international pet trade. It occurs in many protected areas.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1943959

argenteus The ''argenteus'' ( ''argentei'', 'of silver') was a silver coin produced by the Roman Empire from the time of Diocletian's coinage reform in AD 294 to ca. AD 310. It was of similar weight and fineness to the denarius of the time of Nero. The co ...

Frogs of Africa Amphibians of Kenya Amphibians of Malawi Amphibians of Mozambique Amphibians of Tanzania Amphibians of Zimbabwe Amphibians described in 1893 Taxa named by Georg Johann Pfeffer Taxonomy articles created by Polbot