The Mozambique rain frog is a sturdy animal, stout with short legs and a blunt snout. Females grow to a snout-to-vent length of about 52 millimetres (2.0 in).[3] The dorsal surface is greyish-brown speckled with darker colour. A dark streak joins the eye and the front leg, passing over the tympanum. The belly is white with dark blotches and in males, the throat is brown. The feet are unwebbed and the outer two toes are much smaller than the other ones. This species could be confused with Callulina kreffti but that species is more arboreal in habit and has square-ended toepads to assist it in climbing trees.[4] Another frog that is very similar in appearance is Breviceps fichus but the calls of the two species are markedly different.[3]
Distribution and habitatedit
The Mozambique rain frog has a widespread distribution in southern and central Africa. Its range extends from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania in the north to the Republic of South Africa in the south. Its natural habitats are savannah, bushy country and open woodland, especially the moister parts of these. It is found in the lowlands and on the lower slopes in mountainous areas up to a height of 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) above sea level. It is an adaptable species and seems to be able to cope with habitat degradation.[5]
Biologyedit
In dry weather the Mozambique rain frog conceals itself under rocks or in hidden places among tree roots. It feeds on small invertebrates. After substantial rainfall, swarms of winged termites occur and these frogs emerge in large numbers to feed on them.[3]
The Mozambique rain frog lays a small clutch of about twenty-two yolk-rich eggs in a spherical chamber under leaf litter or a grass tussock.[6] Each egg is about 6 millimetres (0.24 in) in diameter and about double this size including the capsule. The embryos take six to eight weeks to develop inside the eggs into young froglets. There is no tadpole stage or need for a body of water in which to reproduce. The female often provides some level of parental care by staying near the clutch but outside the sealed chamber.[6]
Statusedit
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the Mozambique rain frog as being of "Least Concern". This is because it has a wide range, occurs in a variety of habitats and is able to move to new locations if disturbed in its original habitat.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcIUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Breviceps mossambicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T57716A3062310. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T57716A3062310.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Names described as 'Breviceps mossambicus'". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 5.6 (9 January 2013). Retrieved 30 November 2013.
^ abcZimkus, Breda; Minter, L.R. . African Amphibians Lifedesk. Archived from the original on 2011-02-20. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
^Elizabeth Harper; James R. Vonesh. (PDF). Field Guide to the Amphibians of the East Usambara Mountains. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
^ abMuller, Hendrik; Loader, Simon P.; Ngalason, Wilirk; Howell, Kim M.; Gower, David J. (2007). (PDF). Copeia. 2007 (3): 726–733. doi:10.1643/0045-8511(2007)2007[726:ribfaa]2.0.co;2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-03. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
April 18, 2024
mozambique, rain, frog, breviceps, mossambicus, also, known, flat, faced, frog, species, frog, family, brevicipitidae, found, botswana, democratic, republic, congo, eswatini, malawi, mozambique, south, africa, tanzania, zambia, zimbabwe, possibly, lesotho, nat. The Mozambique rain frog Breviceps mossambicus also known as the flat faced frog is a species of frog in the family Brevicipitidae 2 It is found in Botswana Democratic Republic of the Congo Eswatini Malawi Mozambique South Africa Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe and possibly Lesotho Its natural habitats are dry savanna moist savanna temperate shrubland subtropical or tropical dry shrubland temperate grassland subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland subtropical or tropical high altitude grassland arable land pasture land and rural gardens 1 Mozambique rain frog Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Brevicipitidae Genus Breviceps Species B mossambicus Binomial name Breviceps mossambicusPeters 1854 Young Breviceps mossambicus from Mount Sheba close to Pilgrims Rest in Mpumulanga South Africa Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Biology 4 Status 5 ReferencesDescription editThe Mozambique rain frog is a sturdy animal stout with short legs and a blunt snout Females grow to a snout to vent length of about 52 millimetres 2 0 in 3 The dorsal surface is greyish brown speckled with darker colour A dark streak joins the eye and the front leg passing over the tympanum The belly is white with dark blotches and in males the throat is brown The feet are unwebbed and the outer two toes are much smaller than the other ones This species could be confused with Callulina kreffti but that species is more arboreal in habit and has square ended toepads to assist it in climbing trees 4 Another frog that is very similar in appearance is Breviceps fichus but the calls of the two species are markedly different 3 Distribution and habitat editThe Mozambique rain frog has a widespread distribution in southern and central Africa Its range extends from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania in the north to the Republic of South Africa in the south Its natural habitats are savannah bushy country and open woodland especially the moister parts of these It is found in the lowlands and on the lower slopes in mountainous areas up to a height of 1 800 metres 5 900 ft above sea level It is an adaptable species and seems to be able to cope with habitat degradation 5 Biology editIn dry weather the Mozambique rain frog conceals itself under rocks or in hidden places among tree roots It feeds on small invertebrates After substantial rainfall swarms of winged termites occur and these frogs emerge in large numbers to feed on them 3 The Mozambique rain frog lays a small clutch of about twenty two yolk rich eggs in a spherical chamber under leaf litter or a grass tussock 6 Each egg is about 6 millimetres 0 24 in in diameter and about double this size including the capsule The embryos take six to eight weeks to develop inside the eggs into young froglets There is no tadpole stage or need for a body of water in which to reproduce The female often provides some level of parental care by staying near the clutch but outside the sealed chamber 6 Status editThe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the Mozambique rain frog as being of Least Concern This is because it has a wide range occurs in a variety of habitats and is able to move to new locations if disturbed in its original habitat 1 References edit a b c IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2013 Breviceps mossambicus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013 e T57716A3062310 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2013 2 RLTS T57716A3062310 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Frost Darrel R 2013 Names described as Breviceps mossambicus Amphibian Species of the World an Online Reference Version 5 6 9 January 2013 Retrieved 30 November 2013 a b c Zimkus Breda Minter L R Breviceps mossambicus Peters 1854 African Amphibians Lifedesk Archived from the original on 2011 02 20 Retrieved 2012 10 22 Elizabeth Harper James R Vonesh Breviceps mossambicus Peters 1854 PDF Field Guide to the Amphibians of the East Usambara Mountains Archived from the original PDF on 2012 09 13 Retrieved 2012 10 15 Breviceps mossambicus AmphibiaWeb Retrieved 2012 10 15 a b Muller Hendrik Loader Simon P Ngalason Wilirk Howell Kim M Gower David J 2007 Reproduction in Brevicipitid Frogs Amphibia Anura Brevicipitidae Evidence from Probreviceps m macrodactylus PDF Copeia 2007 3 726 733 doi 10 1643 0045 8511 2007 2007 726 ribfaa 2 0 co 2 Archived from the original PDF on 2015 10 03 Retrieved 2012 10 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mozambique rain frog amp oldid 1133675609, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
