Arthroleptis stenodactylus
Silhouette: Maija Karala · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~70% in a week ~90%
Arthroleptis stenodactylus, the common squeaker, dune squeaker, narrow-footed humus frog, savanna squeaking frog, or shovel-footed squeaker, is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It occurs widely in the Sub-Saharan Africa and is known from coastal Kenya and eastern and southern Tanzania (including Zanzibar), south to Malawi and Mozambique and southwest to Zambia and southern Democratic Republic of the Congo to western Angola, northern Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northeastern South Africa. An isolated population in Uganda likely represent another species, and it is possible that the current species circumscription includes further cryptic species.
Arthroleptis stenodactylus inhabits a very wide variety of habitats such as forest, savanna woodland, thickets, and suburban areas at elevations up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level, possibly higher. It is typically found in leaf litter. Breeding is through direct development and not dependent on water. The eggs are laid in hollows or burrows in damp earth. It is an abundant species that is not facing significant threats.
Shovel-footed squeaker Structured guide to the species in southern Africa Wikipedia →
Recording0:14
Zimbabwe · 2025
© GLENN STOCKIL · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:04
Tanzania · 2009
© probreviceps · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:22
Zimbabwe · 2024
© Nick Helme · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gonarezhou National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 2 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Squeaker sighting in Gonarezhou National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 5 amphibians we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February
In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Common Squeaker in Gonarezhou National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and May–October, the lowest months. That is one of Gonarezhou National Park's wettest months, with about 150 mm of rain against almost none in July.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Squeaker sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Common Squeaker sightings, Gonarezhou National Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa, about 20%).
Same order: Anura
The closest relatives of the Common Squeaker that you can see in Gonarezhou National Park (order Anura, Frogs and Toads) are Grey Foam-nest Treefrog (about 40%), Anchieta's Ridged Frog (about 30%) and African Split-skin Toad (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Squeaker is recorded against all the amphibians logged in Gonarezhou National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
