Natal dwarf puddle frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Natal dwarf puddle frog |
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The Natal dwarf puddle frog (Phrynobatrachus natalensis) is a small frog found in many parts of Africa. It belongs to the Phrynobatrachidae family. These frogs live in a wide variety of places, from forests and grasslands to swamps and even near human homes. They are very good at adapting to different environments.
You can find this frog in many countries across Africa. This includes Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eswatini, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. They might also live in Burkina Faso, Chad, Lesotho, and Mauritania.
These frogs can live in many different habitats. They are found in dry and wet forests, savannas, and shrublands. They also live in grasslands, near rivers, and in swamps. You can even spot them near freshwater lakes, marshes, and in places changed by people. This includes arable land (farm fields), pastures, gardens, and even urban areas. They also like ponds and flooded farm fields.
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What Does the Natal Dwarf Puddle Frog Look Like?
The Natal dwarf puddle frog is a tiny frog. It has a round nose and skin that feels a bit bumpy, like it has small warts. These frogs usually grow to be about 2.5 to 3.1 centimeters (about 1 inch) long. Their fingers do not have wide tips and are not connected by webs.
Their back is usually a plain greenish or brownish color. It might be a little darker around the bumpy parts. Their belly is whitish. During the time they breed, male frogs have a special black patch on their throat. This patch has white spots and is called a vocal sac. They use it to make calls.
What Do Natal Dwarf Puddle Frogs Eat?
The Natal dwarf puddle frog eats many different small creatures. These include insects like beetles, termites, and flies. They also eat bugs, cockroaches, and grasshoppers. Sometimes, they even catch butterflies and spiders. Termites seem to be one of their favorite foods.
How Do Natal Dwarf Puddle Frogs Reproduce?
These frogs breed when it is the rainy season. During this time, male frogs make calls to attract females. Both male and female frogs gather near water. They like ponds, streams, marshes, puddles, and even water collected in wheel ruts.
The female frog lays hundreds of eggs. These eggs float together on the surface of the water, forming a raft. The eggs hatch into tadpoles in about four days. The tadpoles then take about four to five weeks to grow. After this time, they change into tiny frogs. This change is called metamorphosis.
What is the Natal Dwarf Puddle Frog's Status?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the Natal dwarf puddle frog as "Least Concern". This means that scientists are not worried about this frog disappearing. It is a very adaptable species, meaning it can live in many different places. It also has a very wide range across Africa, and its numbers seem to be steady.
