Archive/Frog Atlas

Poynton’s River Frog (Amietia poyntoni)

Posted on by Ryan Tippett

View the above photo record (by Ralie Claassen) in FrogMAP here.

Find Poynton’s River Frog in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.

Family Pyxicephalidae

POYNTON’S RIVER FROG – Amietia poyntoni

Channing & Baptista, 2013

Habitat

A. poyntoni is predominantly found in the Grassland and Nama Karoo biomes. Its natural habitat includes streams and rivers in open areas. Readily colonises artificial water bodies such as farm dams, fishponds and wells.

Behaviour

Poynton’s River Frog is active both day and night. It is active and vocal throughout much of the year. Sits in concealed positions at the waters edge. Jumps into water at the slightest disturbance where it hides at the bottom in soft sediment.

Amietia poyntoni – Karoo National Park, Western Cape
Photo by N. Spangenberg

Status and Conservation

Amietia poyntoni is currently considered Near Threatened.

Distribution

This species is near-endemic to South Africa. It occurs widely in the interior and central plateau, from Limpopo and Mpumalanga to the Western Cape. Also occurs in southern and central Namibia.

Distribution of Amieta poyntoni. Taken from the FrogMAP database as at March 2022.

Further Resources

Virtual Museum (FrogMAP > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name)

More common names: Poynton se rivierpadda (Afrikaans)

Recommended citation format for this species text:

Tippett RM.  Poynton’s River Frog Amietia poyntoni. BDI, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/03/28/poyntons-river-frog-amietia-poyntoni/

Ryan Tippett
Ryan Tippett
Ryan is an enthusiastic contributor to Citizen Science and has added many important and interesting records of fauna and flora. He has been a member of the Virtual Museum since 2014 and has currently submitted over 12,000 records. He is on the expert identification panel for the OdonataMAP project. Ryan is a well-qualified and experienced Field Guide, and Guide Training Instructor. He has spent the last 18 years in the guiding and tourism industries. Ryan loves imparting his passion and knowledge onto others, and it is this that drew him into guide training in particular. Something that he finds incredibly rewarding is seeing how people he's had the privilege of teaching have developed and gone on to greater things. His interests are diverse and include Dragonflies, Birding, Arachnids, Amphibians, wild flowers and succulents, free diving and experiencing big game on foot. With this range of interests, there is always likely be something special just around the corner!