Desert Rain Frog

About Desert Rain Frog

• The Desert Rain Frog is a species of frog in the family Brevicipitidae. 
  • It is also known as web-footed rain frog, or Boulenger’s short-headed frog .
• Scientific name: Its scientific name is Breviceps macrops.
• Habitat: Its natural habitat is the narrow strip of sandy shores between the sea and the sand dunes.
• Distribution: It occurs on the Namaqualand coast of South Africa, north to Lüderitz in coastal south-western Namibia.
• Characteristics:
  • Appearance: It is a plump species with bulging eyes, a short snout, short limbs, spade-like feet, and webbed toes.
    • It has a stout body, with small legs, which makes it unable to hop or leap – instead, it walks around on the sand.
    • On the underside, it has a transparent area of skin through which its internal organs can be seen.
    • It can be between 4 and 6 centimetres (1.6 and 2.4 in) long.
    • Its color is yellowish-brown, and sand often adheres to its skin.
    • Unlike most other species of frogs, it develops directly from the egg into adults without passing through the tadpole stage.
  • Diet: It feeds on small insects, such as beetles, moths, termites, and their larvae.
  • Behaviour: It is fossorial which means it has adapted to burrowing and underground living, without water, burying itself in sand dunes vegetated with low vegetation.
    • It is nocturnal, spending the day in a burrow which is dug to a depth of 10 to 20 centimetres (3.9 to 7.9 in) where the sand is moist.
    • Its footprints are distinctive and are often found around patches of dung.
    • It digs its way into the sand in the morning and its presence in a locality can be deduced from the little pile of loose sand dislodged by its burrowing activities.
    • It produces a high-pitched squeaking sound when threatened. The male’s croaking is also distinctly high-pitched.
• Threat: Its overall population is declining due to the loss of the quality and extent of its habitat.
  • Diamond mining and energy infrastructure developments along the west coast of South Africa and Namibia have declined its population.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable