Shoa Forest Tree Frog

About the Shoa Forest Tree Frog

Leptopelis ragazzii is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. The species is endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands on both sides of the Great Rift Valley. Common names Ragazzi's tree frog and Shoa forest treefrog have been coined for it. It is named after Vincenzo Ragazzi (1856–1929), from the Modena Natural History Society, who explored and collected in Ethiopia.

Adult males of L. ragazzii measure 28–43 mm (1.1–1.7 in) and adult females 39–50 mm (1.5–2.0 in) in snout–vent length. There are two colour phases. In phase A, the dorsum is pale greenish-yellow, bright green, or dark olive, and typically there are no darker markings. In phase B, the dorsum is cream, pale grey, or greenish to dark red-brown. There is a feeble to very pronounced pattern of grey or green to dark brown or black blotches, spots and freckling. These markings form a more or less discernible triangle or rectangle. A series of irregular blotches is usually present in the sacral region. Limbs have transverse bars that may or may not be well-defined. Few to numerous cream to bright yellow spots may be irregularly scattered over dorsum. There is almost always a distinct pale line above vent and... Wikipedia →