[1][2][3] The specific name sheldricki honours David Sheldrick, warden of Tsavo East National Park, "in appreciation of his invaluable help and hospitality over many years on occasions when we [Duff-MacKay and Schiøtz] ... have been at Tsavo".

Scattered over the back and upper parts of the arms and legs, there are dark brown spots.

[1] Males have been found calling in grass bordering or in temporary ponds within few days from the first heavy rains after dry periods.

[2] The species is known with certainty from only two localities, one of them in the Tsavo East National Park, but presumably occurs more widely.

The IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group has assessed the species as "Data Deficient".