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 Common Madagascan Reed Frog (1998)


Acrylic on illustration board
3" x 5 1/2"
 This little frog, Heteraxillus madagascariensis, is very common in deforested parts of Madagascar's eastern lowlands. In the town of Maroansetra I found them in nearly every bush. They vary in color from lemon yellow to turquoise and are capable of some degree of color change but always show the slight dark "mask" near their eye. This species belongs to an endemic genus of Madagascan frogs which is closely related to the African reed frogs (Hyperolius sp.), from which it can be distinguished at once by its unique tear-shaped pupil.