There are currently no photographs or maps available for this species.
Find the Cederberg Ghost Frog in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.
Family Heleophrynidae
Identification
The upper parts of the Cedarberg Ghost Frog are light to dark olive with large, irregular maroon coloured blotches. There may be scattered whitish spots on the limbs and back. The back is granular and covered in flattened warts, each with a conical asperity. The eyes have a dark cross-like marking caused by the horizontal pupil.
The undersides are creamy white to yellowish and granular.
The sexes are similar but females are larger. During the breeding season males develop swollen forearms and spines on the chest and inner fingers.
Habitat
The Cedarberg Ghost Frog inhabits clear mountain streams in the Fynbos biome.
Behaviour
The Cedarberg Ghost Frog is often found motionless and well camouflaged among river-bed stones.
Status and Conservation
The Cedarberg Ghost Frog is not threatened. Most of its range falls within protected areas.
Distribution
The Cedarberg Ghost Frog is restricted to the Cedarberg Mountain range, to the north and west of the Breede and Berg Rivers.
Further Resources
Cedarberg Ghost Frog Heleophryne depressa FitzSimons, 1946
Other Common Names: Sederberg-spookpadda (Afrikaans).
Recommended citation format: Tippett, RM. (2025). Cedarberg Ghost Frog Heleophryne depressa. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2022/04/04/cederberg-ghost-frog-heleophryne-depressa/
References:
Minter, LR; Burger, M; Harrison, JA; Braack, HH; Bishop, PJ; Kloepfer, D. (Editors). (2004). Atlas and Red Data Book of the Frogs of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, and Avian Demography
Unit, Cape Town.
Carruthers, V; du Preez, L. (2017). Frogs of southern Africa: A Complete Guide. Struik Nature, Cape Town.
Channing, A. (2001) Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa. Protea Book House, Pretoria
Claus, B; Claus, R. (2002). Common Amphibians and Reptiles of Botswana. Gamsberg Macmillan, Windhoek.
