The Life Cycle of Dwarf African Frogs

Metamorphosis

• Once an African dwarf frog egg is laid, it takes approximately 48 hours for the egg to hatch into larva, called a tadpole; and metamorphosis begins. Metamorphosis is the growth process that transforms a tadpole into a frog. Limbs appear on the tadpole within four weeks. By the eighth week, the metamorphosis is complete, with the limbs developed and the tail reabsorbed into the new frog's body. Even though the frog is technically considered an adult, it takes about a year for sexual maturity to be complete.

Habitat and Diet

• African dwarf frogs are freshwater creatures that spend most of their time underwater, preferring to inhabit shallow creeks, rivers and ponds. They are generally bottom dwellers, meaning, they spend much of their time at the bottom of their aquatic home. These carnivorous frogs swallow their food whole and have a diet that includes worms, water fleas and small fish.

Mating

• The mating ritual of African dwarf frogs includes a humming chorus by the males followed by amplexus. Amplexus is a physical posture that African dwarf frogs -- and other amphibians -- take. It consists of the female swimming or sitting, while the male rests on her back, clutching her around her abdomen with his front legs. Amplexus generally occurs at night and can last for hours. During amplexus, the female releases her eggs into the water and the male releases his sperm to fertilize them. Once the female has laid all of her eggs, she goes into a motionless posture for several minutes. This alerts the male that she's finished releasing her eggs and amplexus ends. Females can lay up to 1,000 eggs.

Species

• Though their common names vary, the species names for African Dwarf frogs include Hymenochirus boettgeri, Hymenochirus boulengeri, Hymenochirus curtipes and Hymenochirus feae. Depending on the authority, Hymenochirus boettgeri camerunensis is listed as a subspecies. African dwarf frogs are members of the family Pipidae, which are all tongueless, toothless frogs. Pipidae includes four other genera of small frogs, including the genus Xenopus, whose members are sometimes confused for Hymenochirus African dwarf frogs.