Bushveld rain frog

Bushveld rain frog

The Bushveld Rain Frog ("Breviceps adspersus") is a species of frog that lives underground, only emerging to feed and mate after a rain, usually at nighttime. Its body is stout and globular, with a flattened face. The color of this species is either light or dark brown, with rows of lighter yellow orange patches, with darker borders. It also has the short, stout limbs typical of most burrowing frogs and toads. However, its back feet are like spades and are able to dig up to 20 inches below ground. If attacked, the frog inflates and lodges itself firmly inside of the burrow. The females are also much larger than males. Since the male cannot grip the female during mating because of the size difference, the female secretes a kind of glue from her back to keep the mating pair together. The stuck-together pair burrow backwards into the soil until they reach a moist spot. Once a suitable spot is reached, the female lays her eggs. The eggs hatch directly into froglets instead of tadpoles. They are one and a half to two and a fourth inches long (3 to 6 centimeters).cite book |title=Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife |others=Burnie, David and Wilson, Don E. (eds.) |date=2005-09-19 |publisher=Dorling Kindersley, Smithsonian Institution |location=New York, New York |isbn=0-7566-1634-4 |chapter=Amphibians |pages=p. 456] [ [http://animals.jrank.org/pages/230/Narrow-Mouthed-Frogs-Microhylidae-BEHAVIOR-REPRODUCTION.html Narrow-Mouthed Frogs: Microhylidae - Behavior And Reproduction ] ]

The Bushveld Rain Frog inhabits temperate forests and open grasslands of southeast Africa. They are a terrestrial species. These frogs only breed in the rainy season. The population of this species is stable, and listed as "locally common".

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Common Rain Frog — may refer to: Breviceps acutirostris, also known as the Strawberry Rain Frog, a frog species found in a small region at the southern tip of Africa Breviceps adspersus, also known as the Bushveld Rain Frog, a frog species found throughout large… …   Wikipedia

  • Malolotja Nature Reserve — covers 4,447 acres (1,800 ha) of mountain wilderness on Swaziland s north western border with South Africa. The park includes Ngwenya Mountain, Swaziland s second highest mountain (1829 m),[1] and Malolotja Falls which drop 292 feet (90metres),… …   Wikipedia

  • Africa — /af ri keuh/, n. 1. a continent S of Europe and between the Atlantic and Indian oceans. 551,000,000; ab. 11,700,000 sq. mi. (30,303,000 sq. km). adj. 2. African. * * * I Second largest continent on Earth. It is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea,… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”