About Microbatrachella capensis (Boulenger, 1910)
Common Name and General Appearance
This species, commonly called the micro frog, is a very small frog with a rounded snout and smooth skin.
Size
It reaches around 18 mm (0.71 in) in length, making it one of the smallest frog species in its local region.
Dorsal Coloration
Its dorsal surface is dark brown speckled with pale brown, with a pale color band running down each flank. There is a dark bar between the eyes and a narrow pale line running along the spine.
Ventral Coloration
Its underparts are pale brown, and the belly is spotted with white.
Endemic Range
The micro frog is endemic to the south-western Cape area of South Africa.
Specific Population Locations
One isolated population occurs on the Cape Flats of Cape Town, and a series of additional populations are found on the eastern side of False Bay, stretching from Kogelberg to Cape Agulhas.
Habitat Type and Altitude
Its natural habitat occurs at low altitudes, in and around shallow, vegetated freshwater wetlands within coastal restioid fynbos.
Restioid Fynbos Definition
Restioid fynbos is a Mediterranean-type vegetation community dominated by restios, also known as Cape reed.
Wetland Hydrology
Typically, these wetlands contain some areas of permanent water, alongside other areas that only flood during the winter to spring rainy season.
