Amphibian
Mascarene Ridged Frog
Ptychadena mascareniensisAlso known as Mascarene Grass Frog, Mascarene Rocket Frog
Mascarene ridged frogs are swift, long-legged jumpers recognized by prominent raised skin ridges running down their backs and a pointed snout. Males gather around shallow pools, rice paddies, and slow-moving streams after rains to produce rapid, rhythmic quacking calls that carry across open marshes. Highly adaptable, they thrive in both pristine wetlands and heavily modified agricultural landscapes throughout sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and the western Indian Ocean islands.
Semi-aquaticNocturnalVocal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyBeetles, Crickets, Spiders
Predators
- Herons
- Water snakes
- Monitor lizards
ThreatsAgricultural runoff, wetland draining, invasive predators
HabitatsSavanna wetlands, marshes, flooded grasslands, agricultural canals
Life span3–6 years
Classification
- FamilyPtychadenidae
- SpeciesPtychadena mascareniensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Best Viewing: Search damp grassy margins around ponds and rice fields with a flashlight shortly after dusk.
- Handling: Avoid handling wild frogs to prevent skin contamination and minimize moisture loss.
Competitor (c) Brian Gratwicke, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator no rights reserved · cc0
Close Relative Ryanvanhuyssteen / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableClose Relative
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