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AmphibianTerrestrialIntermediate
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Red-legged Pan Frog
Phlyctimantis maculatus
The Red-legged Pan Frog boasts a silver back with large, striking black spots and hidden red flash colors. A primarily terrestrial hopper, it requires damp, low-lying habitats with abundant hiding spots.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Hyperoliidae
Genus:Phlyctimantis
Species:Phlyctimantis maculatus
Formerly known as:Kassina maculata
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
50 - 70 %
Day temperature
26 - 28 °C
Night temperature
21 - 23 °C
Ambient temperature
26 - 28 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed throughout the savannas, coastal scrublands, and marshes of East and South Africa. It leads a primarily terrestrial lifestyle, sheltering during the day under roots, fallen logs, or in damp mud near bodies of water.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Features a stocky and robust body, with short limbs unsuitable for large leaps; instead, it moves by walking or running with a unique, cat-like gait. The dorsal color is olive or grayish-bronze, marked with large black or dark green spots bordered in bright yellow. The inner thighs display warning flashes of bright red or orange.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal and secretive, spending daylight hours hidden and becoming active at night to forage on the ground or low vegetation. Males emit a highly distinctive and loud call that resembles the popping sound of a cork being pulled from a bottle.
Morphology: Adult females are larger, rounder, and heavier than males. Males are smaller and possess a dark, loose vocal sac on the throat used to emit their loud mating calls.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a spacious, horizontal or semi-arboreal terrarium (minimum 60x45x45 cm) furnished with thick, low climbing branches, cork bark, and a deep, damp soil substrate covered with leaf litter. Provide a large, shallow water dish for soaking.
Lighting and Heating: Keep daytime temperatures between 26 and 28°C, with a night drop to 21-23°C. Provide 5% UVB lighting during the day, which is essential to prevent metabolic bone disease and support skeletal health.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain relative humidity levels between 60% and 80%. Mist the enclosure thoroughly in the evening with dechlorinated or RO water. Proper ventilation is critical to allow partial drying during the day and prevent bacterial skin rot.
Feeding and Supplementation: A voracious feeder. Diet consists of live crickets, roaches, locusts, and worms. Dust prey items with calcium and vitamin D3 supplements three times a week to support bone health and prevent lethargy or skeletal deformities.
Compatibility: Peaceful toward similar-sized conspecifics and can be housed in small groups. Do not house with smaller amphibians or lizards, as they will be eaten due to the frog's wide mouth and voracious appetite.
Health and Common Diseases: Susceptible to bacterial skin infections (Red Leg disease) under poor sanitary conditions. Avoid handling with bare hands to protect their delicate, permeable skin. Sudden stress can cause them to jump and rub their snouts against glass, leading to abrasions.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Widely distributed throughout the savannas, coastal scrublands, and marshes of East and South Africa. It leads a primarily terrestrial lifestyle, sheltering during the day under roots, fallen logs, or in damp mud near bodies of water.
Origin
North AmericaAfrica and Madagascar
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- No verified data available
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
Image gallery
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