Fun Namaqua Rain Frog Facts For Kids

The Namaqua rain frog (Breviceps namaquensis) is an adorable amphibian that is a miniature and is found in scrubby regions. This little frog species is known to be endemic to South Africa, specifically Zimbabwe and Namibia. The Namaqua rain frog is a South African species of frog that is found in the rainforests of the Eastern Cape. It is one of nine members of the genus Breviceps. The Namaqua rain frog is one of the smallest frogs in the world, measuring just 1.8 in (4.6 cm) in length.

The Namaqua rain frog is also known as the Namaqua dwarf frog or the Namaqua dwarf tree frog. It is one of the common frogs in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa and may be found in many habitats, including bushveld, Lowveld, mountain fynbos, savanna, coastal forest, including the Eastern Cape section of the Wild Coast.

If you would like to know more about their identification, conservation, history, Namaqua rain frog diet, African Namaqua rain frog ash, or Namaqua rain frog poisonous then continue reading this article.

For more such articles on interesting animals, you may want to check out pool frog and dyeing dart frog.

What type of animal is a Namaqua rain frog?

The Namaqua rain frog (Breviceps namaquensis) is a type of frog.

What class of animal does a Namaqua rain frog belong to?

The Namaqua rain frog (Breviceps namaquensis) belongs to the class of Amphibia.

How many Namaqua rain frogs are there in the world?

The Namaqua rain frog (Breviceps namaquensis) is abundant in South Africa. However, their abundant population size is not known yet.

Where does a Namaqua rain frog live?

The Namaqua rain frog is a small, stocky frog that is endemic to southern Africa and lives in and around fast-flowing water. It lives in the arid, hot, rocky areas of Namibia.

What is a Namaqua rain frog's habitat?

The Namaqua rain frog is a small, semi-aquatic frog that is found in the arid parts of southwestern Africa. It is most active at dusk or at night when it can be found sitting on the surface of the water or hiding under the leaves of bushes. The Namaqua rain frog is found in southern Africa and is endemic to Lesotho, South Africa. It is found in and around fast-flowing water, such as streams and rivers, and absent from places where the water is still and shallow. The Namaqua rain frog is a nocturnal frog that can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including coastal fynbos, inland seasonal wetlands, and arid grasslands.

Who do Namaqua rain frogs live with?

The Namaqua rain frog (Breviceps namaquensis) is an amphibian that usually lives with its family members during the breeding season.

How long does a Namaqua rain frog live?

They are believed to live for around eight years or even longer, however, as they are constantly killed by their predators and so, their lifespan cannot be accurately predicted.

How do they reproduce?

The breeding activity takes place in the rainy season, between October and March. Mostly their breeding activity takes place during the summer, spring, or winter seasons, however, it may vary according to the range. They lay around 12-40 eggs and their eggs are underground in chambers covered with a viscous jelly-like substance. As soon as the eggs hit the tadpole stage, the viscous jelly turns into a flowy texture like fluid.

What is their conservation status?

 According to the IUCN Red List, their entire population is categorized under a Least Concern species. Until now, they are not endangered.

What do Namaqua rain frogs look like?

The frog is brown with a white stripe that runs from the eye to the arm. The males are not as brightly colored as the females and they also have a narrower white stripe. The male has a bronze-brown back with some darker brown blotches on the upper surface and a pale underside. The female has a tawny-brown back with dark brownish blotches on the upper surface and a white underside.

They have flat narrow faces with round short thick bodies and larger eyes. Their limbs are short and stubby, and their toes and fingers lack adhesive discs and webbing. From the top, their top portion or upper body is fully brownish with beige or cream brown markings all over their sides and back. Moreover, on the underside, they have smooth white translucent skin.

We've been unable to source an image of a Namaqua rain frog and have used an image of the Cape rain frog instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a Namaqua rain frog, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at [email protected].

How cute are they?

This miniature frog species is too cute and adorable with their round body, narrow head, and large eyes. However, they might pretend to look a little deadly at times like leopard frogs but that is just an adaptation of theirs.

How do they communicate?

They mostly use an acoustic mode of communication. This species is capable of making really loud squeaking sounds. They use various calls to lure the females in order to reproduce.

How big is a Namaqua rain frog?

These little amphibian species are around 1.8 in (4.6 cm) in body length or size. They are slightly bigger than a poison dart frog.

How fast can a Namaqua rain frog move?

They are agile and fast-moving amphibians. The Namaqua rain frog is a burrowing frog, so it spends a lot of time underground. It’s a nocturnal animal and it’s active at night. They have outstanding moving skills as they are used to going underground, burrowing, and running around.

How much does a Namaqua rain frog weigh?

Not much information is available on their body weight, however as they have a small stubby body, they may not be heavy, like a glass frog.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no distinctive names for the male and female frogs in this species. Collectively they are known as the Namaqua rain frog.

What would you call a baby Namaqua rain frog?

A baby Namaqua rain frog is called a tadpole or a froglet.

What do they eat?

The Namaqua rain frog (Breviceps namaquensis) is a nocturnal feeder, eating insects, reptiles, worms, and even other small toads.

Are they poisonous?

No, they are not poisonous at all.

Would they make a good pet?

No, they would not make a really good pet as they are used to living in the wild.

Did you know...

These amphibian species have a very interesting and dramatic tendency to inflate their bodies in order to scare off predators or any other organism.

The reason why a desert rain frog is so round is not known.

How did Namaqua rain frogs get their name?

The Namaqua rain frog is called this because of its ability to counter the variations in atmospheric pressure.

What is the difference between the Namaqua rain frog and a desert frog?

There are so many minor differences between these amphibians, however, the major one is, a desert rain frog does not go through the process of metamorphosis, the tadpole stage. On the contrary, the Namaqua rain frog goes through a complete process through the aqueous tadpole stage. Additionally, the desert rain frog is not endangered but it is categorized under Near Threatened species, unlike the Namaqua rain frog. Therefore, the desert rain frog is not legal to be kept as pets at many places. The best way to care for them is to let them be in the wild. However, they are very convenient and low-maintenance pets.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these red-eyed tree frog facts and Pacman frog facts for kids.

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