Hyperolius sylvaticus is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is found in southern Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and western Cameroon, with a (perhaps apparent) gap in Benin. It is also likely to occur in Liberia. Common name Bobiri reed frog has been coined for this species (this name could also refer to Hyperolius bobirensis ).
Hyperolius sylvaticus is a small-sized member of its genus, with males measuring 20–29 mm (0.79–1.14 in) and females 26–31 mm (1.0–1.2 in) in snout–vent length. Males have a tiny, round gular flap. The pupil is horizontal. There are two colour phases. All juveniles and many mature males display phase "J", which is typically brownish to green and has a dorsal hourglass pattern. All females, and some males, develop into phase "F" prior to the first breeding season. This phase is often colorful and variable.
Body size and dorsal patterning differs between the subspecies. The nominotypical subspecies has coherent dorsal hourglass pattern (phase J) and undelimited, light dorsolateral stripe (phase F). In Hyperolius s. ivorensis and Hyperolius s. nigeriensis the hourglass pattern is broken mid-dorsally. In addition, Hyperolius s. nigeriensis are larger and have a dark, well delimited area behind eye (phase J) and a broad, dark-delimited dorsolateral stripe (phase F).
Male advertisement call is a series of brief metallic "clicks"; it is not known whether there are differences among the subspecies.
