Desert rain frog: Difference between revisions

==Description==

The desert rain frog is a plump species with bulging eyes, a short snout, short limbs, spade-like feet, and webbed toes. On the underside, it has a transparent area of skin through which its internal organs can be seen. It can be between {{convert|4|and|6|cm|in}} long. Its color is yellowish-brown, and sand often adheres to its skin.<ref name=AmphibiaWeb>{{cite web |url=http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-genus=Breviceps&where-species=macrops |title=''Breviceps macrops'' |author=Castillo, Nery |date=2011-06-23 |publisher=AmphibiaWeb |access-date=2012-10-20}}</ref> Sand sticks to the frogs entire body excluding the mouth and nose and can likely be attributed to a type of sticky secretion as removal of sand from the frog is difficult.<ref name=":1" />

 

Unlike most other species of frogs, it develops directly from the egg into adults without passing through the tadpole stage. It has a stout body, with small legs, which makes it unable to hop or leap – instead, it walks around on the sand. Unusually for a frog, it does not require water in its habitat to survive. It however also does not have any apparent adaption specifically to prevent water loss.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Channing |first=Alan |last2=Van Wyk |first2=Andre |last3=Baard |first3=E. H.W. |last4=Haagner |first4=G. V. |last5=Carpenter |first5=G. |last6=Haagner |first6=G. V. |last7=Els |first7=R. A. |last8=Haagner |first8=G. V. |last9=Haagner |first9=G. V. |last10=Branch |first10=W. R. |last11=Porter |first11=B. W. |last12=Patterson |first12=M. |last13=Haagner |first13=Gerald |date=November 1987 |title=Life History Notes |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/04416651.1987.9650177 |journal=The Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa |language=en |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=33–38 |doi=10.1080/04416651.1987.9650177 |issn=0441-6651}}</ref> Its eyes are comparatively large and bulging. The lifespan ranges between 4 and 14 years.