Probreviceps rhodesianus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Probreviceps rhodesianus
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Brevicipitidae
Genus:	Probreviceps
Species:	P. rhodesianus
Binomial name
Probreviceps rhodesianus Poynton [fr] and Broadley, 1967
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Probreviceps rhodesianus is a small type of frog that belongs to the Brevicipitidae family. It's also known by several fun names like the forest rain frog or the Zimbabwe big-fingered frog. So far, this special frog has only been found in three places in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, near a town called Mutare. This means it is endemic to Zimbabwe, which means it lives only there. However, it's possible that it might also live in nearby Mozambique.

What Does the Zimbabwe Big-Fingered Frog Look Like?

Male frogs of this species grow to about 35 mm long from their nose to their bottom. Females are a bit bigger, reaching up to 49 mm.

You can clearly see their tympanum, which is like an eardrum on the side of their head. Their skin feels bumpy and granular, but it doesn't have any big ridges or warts. Male frogs have looser skin under their chin than females. The opening where waste leaves their body is in an unusual spot, pointing downwards. It's surrounded by deep skin folds, but scientists don't yet know why it's like that.

Where Does the Forest Rain Frog Live and How Is It Doing?

This frog's natural habitat is in old, untouched montane forests, which are forests found high up in the mountains, usually above 1500 m. It is a terrestrial species, meaning it lives on the ground. You can often find these frogs hiding under rotten logs or under piles of fallen leaves. These leaf piles often form on the uphill side of logs.

When these frogs lay their eggs, they do it on land, often in a small chamber dug into the rich, dark soil called humus. The eggs then develop directly into tiny froglets, meaning they don't go through a tadpole stage in water.

Even though this frog is thought to be fairly common, its home range is quite small. Also, there haven't been any official sightings of it since 1985. This frog is facing threats like habitat loss, which means its forest home is disappearing. Logging, which is cutting down trees, and trampling, which means people or animals walking over and disturbing its habitat, are also big problems. This frog lives in the Nyanga National Park, but sadly, these same threats are also happening inside the park.