Namaqua Rain Frog

A very odd frog indeed. The Namaqua Rain Frog (Breviceps namaquensis) is a species of frog in the Microhylidae family. It is found in South Africa and possibly Namibia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and sandy shores. It is threatened by habitat loss. This frog is a burrowing species that spends most of its time underground and does not inhabit water. It occurs generally in dry, low-lying areas that are predominantly sandy and well covered with scrub vegetation – but has also been recorded in hilly areas with more loamy and rocky substrates. When disturbed, these frogs have the ability to inflate their bodies dramatically as a defence mechanism to deter predators. Breeding activity has been recorded in winter, spring and summer . They spend most of their time underground, surfacing after the rains to feed on insects.

Watch a short video as this little guy tries to ward off a predator (the cameraman): video here