It is found in southern Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and western Cameroon,[1][2][3][4][5] with a (perhaps apparent) gap in Benin.

[1] Common name Bobiri reed frog has been coined for this species[2][3] (this name could also refer to Hyperolius bobirensis[6]).

Hyperolius sylvaticus was described by Danish herpetologist Arne Schiøtz [fr] in 1967, using material from the Bobiri Forest Reserve (Ghana) as the types.

All juveniles and many mature males display phase "J", which is typically brownish to green and has a dorsal hourglass pattern.

This makes is vulnerable to habitat change from agricultural expansion and increasing human settlements.