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Carruthers’ Rain Frog (Breviceps carruthersi)

Posted on by Ryan Tippett

Cover photo by Ryan Tippett.

Find the Carruthers’ Rain Frog in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.

Family Brevicepitidae

Identification

Carruthers’ Rain Frog is stout with short legs and a short head. Females attain 59mm in length. Males are smaller and reach 39mm in length. The uppersides are mottled brown with large, pale, and irregular paravertebral blotches. There are also often 3 yellowish patches along the flanks. A pale bar between the eyes is usually also present. The undersides are smooth and plain white with the occasional dark spot.

Carruthers’ Rain Frog Breviceps carruthersi
Mkhuze Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Alan Manson

Habitat

Carruthers’ Rain Frog inhabits sand forest, dense bushveld and open grassy woodlands on well-drained sandy soils.

Behaviour

Adults emerge from their burrows after good summer rains. Males form choruses where they call from concealed positions beneath vegetation. Not much is currently known about this species.

Carruthers’ Rain Frog Breviceps carruthersi
Thanda Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Ryan Tippett

Status and Conservation

Data deficient. Carruthers’ Rain Frog is present in a number of conservation areas within its limited distribution.

Carruthers’ Rain Frog Breviceps carruthersi
Near Mkuze, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Bernard Wouda

Distribution

Distribution of Breviceps carruthersi. Taken from the FrogMAP database. April 2022.

Further Resources

The use of photographs by Alan Manson and Bernard Wouda is acknowledged.

Carruthers’ Rain Frog Breviceps carruthersi Minter, Netherlands & Du Preez, 2017

Other Common Names: Phinda Rain Frog (Alt. English); Phinda-reënpadda (Afrikaans)

Recommended citation format: Tippett, RM. (2025). Carruthers’ Rain Frog Breviceps carruthersi. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2022/03/28/carruthers-rain-frog-breviceps-carruthersi/

References: 

Minter, LR; Burger, M; Harrison, JA; Braack, HH; Bishop, PJ; Kloepfer, D. (Editors). (2004). Atlas and Red Data Book of  the Frogs of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, and Avian Demography
Unit, Cape Town.

Carruthers, V; du Preez, L. (2017). Frogs of southern Africa: A Complete Guide. Struik Nature, Cape Town.

Channing, A. (2001) Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa. Protea Book House, Pretoria

Claus, B; Claus, R. (2002). Common Amphibians and Reptiles of Botswana. Gamsberg Macmillan, Windhoek.

Similar Species

Ndumo Rain Frog (Breviceps passmorei)
Bushveld Rain Frog (Breviceps adspersus)
Ryan Tippett
Ryan Tippett
Ryan is an enthusiastic contributor to Citizen Science and has added many important and interesting records of fauna and flora. He has been a member of the Virtual Museum since 2014 and has currently submitted over 12,000 records. He is on the expert identification panel for the OdonataMAP project. Ryan is a well-qualified and experienced Field Guide, and Guide Training Instructor. He has spent the last 18 years in the guiding and tourism industries. Ryan loves imparting his passion and knowledge onto others, and it is this that drew him into guide training in particular. Something that he finds incredibly rewarding is seeing how people he's had the privilege of teaching have developed and gone on to greater things. His interests are diverse and include Dragonflies, Birding, Arachnids, Amphibians, wild flowers and succulents, free diving and experiencing big game on foot. With this range of interests, there is always likely be something special just around the corner!