Starry Night Reed Frog

Heterixalus alboguttatus

A small Madagascar frog whose dark back is covered in yellow spots like a starry sky.

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About the Starry Night Reed Frog

Starry night reed frogs, also called whitebelly reed frogs, have dark black or gray backs with yellow and black circles, orange feet and a white belly. They live only on the east coast of Madagascar, in moist tropical forests, shrublands, swamps and marshes. They eat invertebrates the size of their heads or smaller.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Heterixalus alboguttatus^[1]
Lifespan: 2 to 3 years; over 5 in human care.^[1]
Diet: Insectivore. Invertebrates up to the size of its head.^[1]
Habitat: Moist forests, shrublands, swamps and marshes.^[1]
Where it lives: East coast of Madagascar.^[1]
Group life: Social; often found in groups. Nocturnal.^[1]
Babies: Up to 500 eggs.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2016).^[2]

Fun facts

Its spots look like stars in the night sky.^[1]
Females may lay up to 500 eggs at once.^[1]
It's also called the whitebelly reed frog.^[1]

Vocabulary

endemic: Found naturally in only one place in the world.
conspecific: A member of the same species.
tadpole: A young frog that lives in water and breathes with gills.
nocturnal: Active mainly at night.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Oakland ZooOakland, California · Children's ZooSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Oakland Zoo. “Starry Night Reed Frog.” https://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/starry-night-reed-frog/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Heterixalus alboguttatus (Whitebelly Reed Frog).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/56096/84159678 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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