SUMMARY

• PREVALENCE: Common

• ACTIVE PERIOD: Active at night

• KEY ID FEATURES: Highly distinct green dorsum, and large size of females in maturity

• SIZE: ~5 - 11cm (males/females)

• IUCN: LC - Least Concern

GALLERY

IMPORTANT: Many frogs have significant variance in coloration and pattern even within the same species. There can also be extreme differences in appearance from juveniles to adults and some species appear very similar in maturity.

DESCRIPTION

The green cascade frog is one of Hong Kong’s most common encounters on the trails and in country parks. This species is sexually dimorphic with the females reaching 10-12cm and males only around 5-6cm. They have a distinct appearance with a vibrant green dorsum running from the snout to the cloaca. The green can be immaculate or occasionally with a few small dark spots. Some localized populations can have blue blotches interspersed with the green. A dark stripe runs from the tip of the nose along the side of the face, over the eye and extending dorsolaterally to the hindlimb. The flanks are dark brown with white or yellow mottling. The upper lip is bright white with an obvious white colored lump behind the jaw just above the forelimb. The forelimbs are light brown with dark brown blotches. Hindlimbs are light brown with dark brown bands. A skin fold runs from behind each eye, over the tympanum and down the side of the head terminating just before the joint of the forelimb and body. This skin fold is slightly more pronounced on males than on females. The tympanum is small relative to the eye but obvious.

The venter is all white with the underside of the hindlimbs slightly opaque with no markings.

They have four digits on the forelimbs with no webbing present. The first digit is slightly elongated, second truncated with the third the longest. Hindlimbs have five digits and small toe pads. Digits on the hind limbs are completely webbed.

This species is known to produce a toxic poison through its skin that creates an odorous smell and can be toxic to other frogs and potential predators. It is not known how toxic this poison may be to humans.

HABITAT

They are found in clear flowing streams at mid to high elevation and occasionally low elevation as well.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

CAUTION SHOULD TAKEN WHEN INTERACTING WITH AMPHIBIANS: The green cascade frog is unique in appearance and not easily confused with other species. It’s key identifying characteristic is its vibrant green dorsum. It is possible that a two-striped grass frog could be confused with a juvenile green cascade frog, but given the rarity of the former, it is not a situation that would often occur, though the two species do occur sympatrically. The key distinguishing feature in this case are the obvious white or gold color skin folds on the dorsum of the two-stripped grass frog which appear like two white stripes running down the back.