Ghost frog

The ghost frog is the common name for a family of frogs of the family Heleophrynidae. The family has two genera, Heleophryne and Hadromophryne.  There are seven species. Ghost frogs live in swift-moving mountain streams in South Africa. The common name of "ghost frogs" may be because they live in Skeleton Gorge.

Biology
Ghost frogs are medium sized frogs, reaching a length of .  They have flat bodies. This lets them climb inside rocky crevices. They have very large toe discs in comparison to their size.  This helps to hold onto rocks. The mouthparts of the tadpoles are a sucking disc.  This lets them hold onto the surface they live on and remain still while they are feeding.

Taxonomy
The ghost frogs are closely related to the Sooglossidae family, which inhabit the Seychelles. They may also be closely related to the Australian Myobatrachids.

Family Heleophrynidae
 Genus Hadromophryne Van Dijk, 2008
 Natal Ghost Frog, Hadromophryne natalensis Hewitt, 1913
 Genus Heleophryne Sclater, 1898
 Cederberg Ghost Frog, Heleophryne depressa FitzSimons, 1946
 Hewitt's Ghost Frog, Heleophryne hewitti Boycott, 1988
 Eastern Ghost Frog, Heleophryne orientalis FitzSimons, 1946
 Purcell's Ghost Frog, Heleophryne purcelli Sclater, 1898
 Royal Ghost Frog, Heleophryne regis Hewitt, 1910
 Table Mountain Ghost Frog, Heleophryne rosei Hewitt, 1925

References



Category:Frogs of Africa