Cover photo by P. Webb.
Find the Ndumo Rain Frog in the FBIS database (Freshwater Biodiversity Information System) here.
Family Brevicepitidae
Identification
The Ndumo 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. A pale bar between the eyes is usually also present. The undersides are smooth and plain white.
Near Magudu, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Alan Williams
Habitat
The Ndumo Rain Frog occupies woodlands or wooded grasslands on well-drained sandy-loam soils.
Photo by Ryan Tippett
Behaviour
Not much is known about the Ndumo Rain Frog. Its life history is likely to be similar to other Breviceps species. They spend most of their time underground but are active on the surface after the emergence of termite alates.
Status and Conservation
The Ndumo Rain Frog is not considered threatened. It is known to occur in several conservation areas.
Distribution
Further Resources
The use of photographs by Alan Williams and P. Webb is acknowledged. Other photographs by Ryan Tippett.
Ndumo Rain Frog Breviceps passmorei Minter, Netherlands & Du Preez, 2017
Other Common Names: Ndumo-reënpadda (Afrikaans)
Recommended citation format: Tippett, RM. (2025). Ndumo Rain Frog Breviceps passmorei. Biodiversity and Development Institute, Cape Town. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2022/04/04/ndumo-rain-frog-breviceps-passmorei/
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.
