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Hogsback frog

species of amphibian

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Record originEnglish Wikipedia
Text licenseCC BY-SA 4.0
Source revisionAug 20, 2026
Entity authorityQ2704336
Source-derived summary

The Hogsback frog (Anhydrophryne rattrayi), or Rattray's forest frog, is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is one of three species within the genus Anhydrophryne. It is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.

Discovery

This frog was initially discovered by Dr. George Rattray in the Hogsback Mountain region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, and was described as a new species by John Hewitt in 1919.

Distribution and habitat

The frog is found in the Amotola (where the type locality, Hogsback is located), Katberg and Keiskammahoek mountains. Its habitat is the floor of forests near the forest edge at an altitude greater than 1100 m. It is particularly associated with the forest–grassland ecotone.

Biology

These small frogs are light-grey to dark-brown (sometimes coppery) in colour. The adult often has a thin pale line over its head and back, with two darker bands along either side.

Editorial summary

The public source identifies “Hogsback frog” as species of amphibian. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Hogsback, frog and species.

Editorial reviewA practical orientation to terminology and classification, particularly when read beside dated observations, specimens or technical literature. The current lead gives the account dated anchors—1919, 1100—that can be checked directly. The selected authority fields contribute no independent date. Its value is orientation rather than verdict, with Hogsback, frog and species providing the first useful test.
Editorial analysis

Why this record matters

A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Hogsback frog”, the useful work is to connect “species of amphibian” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.

Evidence profile

The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 20, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2704336. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1919 and 1100.

Critical limits

Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.

How to read it

Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.

Best used for
  • Current terminology
  • Classification context
  • Finding cited technical literature
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Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.

Three-step research path

  1. Establish the record: confirm the title “Hogsback frog”, its source revision and the description used here.
  2. Expand the search: follow Hogsback frog primary sources, Hogsback frog archive and Hogsback research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
  3. Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.

Questions for further research

  1. Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Hogsback frog”?
  2. Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
  3. Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
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Source & attribution

This entry incorporates text from Hogsback frog” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.