View the above photo record (by Alison Sharp) in FrogMAP here.
Find the Cape Sand Frog in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.
Family Pyxicephalidae
CAPE SAND FROG – Tomopterna delalandii
(Tschudi, 1838)
Habitat
T. delalandii inhabits lowlands and valleys throughout the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes. Annual rainfall in these areas is 60–750 mm. It breeds in pans, vleis and dams, as well as small watercourses in flat, sandy areas.
Behaviour
Males call from exposed positions, often in shallow water. This species breeds in winter in the winter-rainfall region, and in summer throughout the rest of its range (Channing 1988). About 2500 eggs are laid singly or in small masses and have an unpleasant odour. The tadpoles are benthic and reach 44 mm in length. Metamorphosis takes place within 25–35 days.
Status and Conservation
This widespread species is abundant and not in need of conservation action.
Distribution
This South African endemic species is distributed from Steinkopf (2917BC) in Northern Cape Province, southward through Namaqualand and eastward across most of Western Cape Province to the low-lying areas of Eastern Cape Province. It is recorded as far east as Port Alfred (3326DB). Some records from the Karoo and interior may be confused with T. tandyi (see the comments under T. cryptotis).
Further Resources
Virtual Museum (FrogMAP > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name)
More common names: Delalande’s Sand Frog, Striped Pyxie (Alternative English Names); Gestreepte Sandpadda (Afrikaans)
Recommended citation format for this species text:
Channing A, Tippett RM. Cape Sand Frog Tomopterna delalandii. BDI, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/02/21/cape-sand-frog-tomopterna-delalandii/
Recommended citation format:
This species text has been updated and expanded from the text in the
2004 frog atlas. The reference to the text and the book are as follows:
Channing A 2004 Tomopterna delalandii Cape Sand Frog. In Minter LR
et al 2004.
Minter LR, Burger M, Harrison JA, Braack HH, Bishop PJ, Kloepfer D (eds)
2004. Atlas and Red Data Book of the Frogs of South Africa, Lesotho and
Swaziland. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, and Avian Demography
Unit, Cape Town.
