Frog ID, Noordhoek Dunes

[Zeiphex]

Hey guys, saw a two or three of these little guys on the dunes at Noordhoek beach (the Chapman's Peak side) on New Year's eve, and wasn't too sure what they were so snapped a few pics (and because why not take pics if you happen to have a nice zoom lens with you ). They were all a white colour and covered in sand, with a general shape kind of similar to a Cape Sand Frog, though all the photos are of the same frog. The pictures make it look bigger than it was - about 3cm. Any ideas as to what this little guy could be? Happy New Year by the way

[Sico]

It does appear to be a species of Tomopterna (sand frog) but offhand I am not familiar with the cape species.

[Zeiphex]

Thanks Sico! Could they be juvenile Cape Sand Frogs (Tomopterna delalandii) perhaps? I thought of that when I first saw them but the only images I can find of the juveniles show them patterned like the adults. These little ones seemed to be all white - could they perhaps fade out their patterning to match the sand?

[Sico]

A lot of frogs will change their colouration to an extent based on time of day, temperature and somewhat to the specific environment they are in, Chiromantis for example are often brilliant chalk white during the daytime, and a brownish grey during the evenings. This may be what you are finding here, but I really don't know all that much about Tomopterna doing the same thing.