This is one of the most bizarre and rare frog species in the world. They have a unique defense mechanism that involves emitting extremely “creepy” screaming sounds. This sound is guaranteed to be the “scariest” you have ever heard in your life.
Animals in the perilous natural world have different instincts to cope with threatening situations. For example, the growls of a tiger, the hissing of a snake, or the camouflage abilities of a chameleon.
They emit “creepy” sounds that are beyond your imagination.
For frogs, they choose to respond by “screaming”, producing loud distinctive calls, much like how tigers or lions threaten their enemies.
As a member of the frog family, the Desert Rain Frog also employs a similar defense mechanism. They emit such “creepy” sounds that you can’t even imagine.
The Desert Rain Frog is scientifically named Breviceps macrops. This small, plump frog has bulging eyes, a short nose, short limbs, and webbed feet. The name comes from Latin, where “brevi” means short, and “ceps” refers to head, reflecting their distinctive appearance. The term “macrops” refers to their large eyes, which are a prominent feature of this tiny frog.
The Desert Rain Frog has yellowish-brown skin that often gets covered in sand. Notably, their underside has a transparent layer of skin, allowing their internal organs to be visible. Desert Rain Frogs lay eggs that develop directly into frogs without passing through a tadpole stage.
So what does their call sound like? Fortunately, photographer Dean Boshoff was brave enough to get close and capture this incredibly “scary” sound. If you dare, give it a listen; you will surely be surprised.
Interesting, right? This frog species with its “creepy” sound is a native species in Namibia and South Africa. In South Africa and Namibia, the Desert Rain Frog is also known by various names such as milk frog (Melkpadda in Afrikaans), short-headed frog, or web-footed rain frog. These names not only describe the species but also reflect their connection to the arid environment they inhabit.
They spend most of their daytime hiding deep in the sand to cool down and retain moisture. Only when hungry do they emerge from their hiding spots to hunt for prey, usually small insects.
Predators and Risk of Extinction
The Desert Rain Frog is a small creature that is preyed upon by various birds and mammals in the area. Some potential predators include the eagle owl, black eagle, striped polecat, and honey badger. However, the greatest threat to this species does not come from nature but from humans.
Mining and urbanization have severely shrunk the Desert Rain Frog’s habitat. Namaqualand, where they reside, is rich in diamonds and copper, leading to large-scale mining activities. From 1977 to 2011, the frog population significantly declined, being squeezed into a coastal strip less than 10 km long.
Reproduction and Lifecycle
After mating, females lay between 12 and 40 eggs.
The breeding season for Desert Rain Frogs occurs at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Males produce long whistles to attract mates. After mating, females lay between 12 and 40 eggs in small burrows beneath the sand.
Unlike many other amphibians, Desert Rain Frogs do not undergo a tadpole stage. The hatchlings emerge fully formed as miniature adult frogs, ready to fend for themselves right from birth.
The average lifespan of this species ranges from 4 to 15 years. However, given their current endangered status, their future remains a significant concern.
The Desert Rain Frog symbolizes adaptation and survival in harsh conditions. However, human activities are pushing this species to the brink of extinction.
Raising awareness about the importance of protecting natural habitats, along with implementing measures to limit mining and urban development in Namaqualand, will be key to conserving this tiny yet incredibly special frog.
