Common Hourglass Tree Frog

Common Hourglass Tree Frog

Polypedates cruciger

Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
at Sinharaja Forest Reserve
40 Verified sightings at Sinharaja Forest Reserve From 2019 to 2026
55 Verified sightings across all 4 parks From 2019 to 2026
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Common Hourglass Tree Frog

Polypedates cruciger (commonly known as the Sri Lanka whipping frog or common hour-glass tree-frog) is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae endemic to Sri Lanka. It has been osbserved as high as 1600 meters above sea level.

This frog can tolerate different habitats, including secondary forest, banana farms, gardens, and buildings. Scientists have not seen this frog in primary forest. Scientists say this frog is not in danger of dying out because of its large range and tolerance to altered habitat.

Scientists used to think frog was conspecific with Polypedates pseudocruciger, which lives in India's Western Ghat mountains. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Sharp-snouted Shrub Frog
EN Endemic

Sharp-snouted Shrub Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudophilautus cuspis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Sharp-snout Saddled Tree Frog
EN Endemic

Sharp-snout Saddled Tree Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Taruga longinasus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Common Shrub Frog
VU Endemic

Common Shrub Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudophilautus popularis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Schneider's shrub frog
VU Endemic

Schneider's shrub frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Pseudophilautus schneideri

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Hollow-snouted Shrub Frog
VU

Hollow-snouted Shrub Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Pseudophilautus cavirostris

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Grubby Shrub Frog
VU Endemic

Grubby Shrub Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudophilautus sordidus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Orange-canthal Shrub Frog
VU Endemic

Orange-canthal Shrub Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudophilautus stictomerus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Reticulate tree frog
VU Endemic

Reticulate tree frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Pseudophilautus reticulatus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Cheeky Shrub Frog
Endemic

Cheeky Shrub Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Pseudophilautus procax

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Leaf-dwelling Shrub Frog
VU Endemic

Leaf-dwelling Shrub Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Pseudophilautus folicola

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Side-striped Shrub Frog
VU Endemic

Side-striped Shrub Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Pseudophilautus pleurotaenia

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Poppy's Shrub Frog
CR Endemic

Poppy's Shrub Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Pseudophilautus poppiae

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Sinharaja Forest Reserve 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~40%
2 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~30%
3 Minneriya National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Insufficient data
4 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Common Hourglass Tree Frog in Sinharaja Forest Reserve?

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Common Hourglass Tree Frog sighting in Sinharaja Forest Reserve, based on 40 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Common Hourglass Tree Frog in Sinharaja Forest Reserve?

August has the highest sighting rate for Common Hourglass Tree Frog in Sinharaja Forest Reserve in our monthly data.

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