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AmphibianTerrestrialIntermediate
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Senegal Running Frog
Kassina senegalensis
A terrestrial African frog recognized by its dark stripes and its unique habit of walking or running instead of hopping.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Hyperoliidae
Genus:Kassina
Species:Kassina senegalensis
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
80 - 85 %
Day temperature
22 - 26 °C
Night temperature
18 - 20 °C
Ambient temperature
22 - 26 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: *Kassina senegalensis* (Senegal Running Frog) is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal to South Africa. It inhabits a broad spectrum of open habitats, including moist and dry savannas, grasslands, shrublands, and agricultural fields. It avoids dense rainforests, preferring areas with temporary pools for breeding.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the family Hyperoliidae. This species is famous for its unique locomotor behavior; instead of hopping, it walks or runs on the ground, which is an evolutionary adaptation to terrestrial life. Genetic lineages remain highly stable across its extensive geographical distribution.
Behavior and Habits: Primarily terrestrial and nocturnal. During the day, it shelters beneath rocks, fallen logs, or inside self-excavated burrows in the soil to escape the heat and conserve moisture. Males produce an exceptionally loud, distinctive call at night, resembling the sound of a popping bottle cork.
Morphology: A medium-sized frog, ranging from 3 to 5 cm in snout-vent length. It features a robust body, relatively short hind limbs, and lacks extensive webbing between its toes, reflecting its walking habits. The skin is smooth, greyish-olive or tan, marked by three prominent, dark brown or black longitudinal stripes down the back.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a horizontal terrarium of at least 60-80 liters (15-20 gallons) for a small group. The substrate should be soft and moisture-retentive, consisting of coconut fiber or organic soil at least 5 cm deep to allow borrowing behavior. Provide cork bark hides, live or fake plants, and a very shallow water dish.
Lighting and Heating: Provide moderate heating. Daytime temperatures should be kept between 22 and 26 °C, with a slight drop at night to 18-20 °C. A low-output UVB lamp (2.0 or 5.0) is recommended to support calcium synthesis, though shaded areas must be provided to allow the frogs to escape direct light.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain moderate humidity levels around 50-70%. Lightly mist the enclosure once daily, preferably in the evening. A shallow, heavy water dish filled with dechlorinated water (no deeper than 1-2 cm) is critical, as these frogs are poor swimmers and can easily drown in deep water.
Feeding and Supplementation: Voracious insectivore. In captivity, feed a variety of small live insects such as crickets, roaches, and mealworms. Dust prey items with a high-quality calcium and D3 supplement twice a week for juveniles and once a week for adults to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Compatibility: Can be housed in small groups of the same species if ample space and hides are provided. Do not mix with larger amphibians that could prey on them, or with reptiles. Keep this species quarantined from other amphibians to prevent the spread of chytrid fungus.
Health and Common Diseases: Susceptible to bacterial skin infections (such as red-leg disease) if kept on waterlogged or soiled substrate. Good cross-ventilation is essential. Dehydration is a major risk if the enclosure dries out completely or if clean drinking water is unavailable. Always treat tap water before use.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
*Kassina senegalensis* (Senegal Running Frog) is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal to South Africa. It inhabits a broad spectrum of open habitats, including moist and dry savannas, grasslands, shrublands, and agricultural fields. It avoids dense rainforests, preferring areas with temporary pools for breeding.
Origin
Cosmopolitan or introducedNorth AmericaAfrica and Madagascar
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 5.2 cm
- 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
The catalog's scalar value is 5.2 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 5.2 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
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Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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