Cape Rain Frog or Giant Rain Frog (Breviceps gibbosus)
- family Microhylidae (Narrowmouth Toads)
Endemic to South Africa, found in dry shrubby and urban settings. Called “rain Frogs”, because they are usually not seen above ground until there is ample rain. Though the species is common in its range, little study has been done into its natural history. We do know, that like most members of the genus Breviceps, the males attach themselves to the much larger globular females with a strong adhesive skin secretion for purposes of mating. The female is too large for the male to grasp in amplexus. The female then burrows to a moist subterranean lair to mate, again… with the male literally glued to her posterior. The young will go through their egg and larval stages in the foam and water mixture in the underground chamber, who eventually emerge during a heavy rain.
(photo: T - Abu Shawkade; B - Villiers, A.L., Atlas and Red Data of the Frogs of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland)
