Archive/Frog Atlas

Rough Moss Frog (Arthroleptella rugosa)

Posted on by Ryan Tippett

No photo is currently available for this species.

Find the Rough Moss Frog in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.

Family Breviceptidae

ROUGH MOSS FROG – Arthroleptella rugosa

Turner & Channing, 2008

Habitat

The Rough Moss Frog occurs in montane fynbos where it inhabits densely vegetated and permanently moist seeps. Especially in places where restios are abundant.

Behaviour

Not much is known about the life history of this species. Males call in the morning after rain. Call sites are well concealed in the dense seep vegetation. Breeds during mid to late winter.

There is no aquatic tadpole stage. The tadpoles develop in a nest on the damp substrate.

Status and Conservation

Arthroleptella subvoce is Critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution.

Distribution

Arthroleptella rugosa has a tiny, restricted distribution. It is entirely confined to the slopes of the Swartberg near Caledon, Western Cape.

No maps are currently available for this species.

Further Resources

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

More common names: Skurwe Mospadda (Afrikaans)

Recommended citation format for this species text:

Tippett RM. Rough Moss Frog Arthroleptella rugosa. BDI, Cape Town.
Available online at http://thebdi.org/2022/03/28/northern-moss-frog-arthroleptella-subvoce/

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!