Quick Take
- Unlike most frogs, this one can't just hop away from danger. Instead, it relies on something far stranger to survive. See its strange survival tactics →
- Its puffed-up posture is pure theater, and predators almost always fall for it. Explore the puffing bluff →
- A viral video made millions laugh at this frog's squeak, even though the frog wasn't joking at all. Behind the viral squeak →
The sounds of summer always bring forth a chorus of amphibious croaks. For most, these are mating calls of frogs posturing to find a partner. But for some, like the desert rain frog (Breviceps macrops), these calls can be downright terrifying. The tiny frog in this YouTube video might be small, but it is mighty. And when its enemies appear, it doesn’t hesitate to let out a sound that most might equate with a dog toy. That’s right — the desert rain frog doesn’t croak in warning, but prefers to squeak its enemies into submission.
This Small Frog Has a Big Message
Few things are cuter than a small, adorable animal making a high-pitched noise. And while this video went viral for its cute factor, the desert rain frog starring in it meant business. Those squeaks may sound comical to us as humans, but they mean something far different in the animal kingdom. Desert rain frogs typically only make these noises in self-defense. When a threat is near, this sound could be the difference between life and death.
Desert rain frogs are less than three inches long, but they have a voice that makes them sound much larger.
©Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/Shutterstock.com
In its native range along the coastal strip of Namibia and South Africa, this tiny frog has many natural enemies. Because it cannot hop away quickly like other, larger amphibians, the desert rain frog becomes a seemingly easy meal. Its only defenses are its vocalizations and its ability to puff up its body.
A Bluff of a Puff-Up
In this video, the desert rain frog is showing classic defensive behavior. To scare away predators, it sucks in as much air as it can and puffs itself up. This bluff is a scare tactic used to intimidate enemies, hoping they think the frog is larger than it actually is.
In their non-puffed form, they appear to be an easy meal for predators.
©Lauren Suryanata/Shutterstock.com
In addition to puffing, desert rain frogs emit their classic, high-pitched squeak. This acts as a warning, alerting predators to the frog’s presence. The sound is dramatically different from other amphibious species, making predators think twice about turning the desert rain frog into prey. In most cases, this sound is enough to take larger animals by surprise.
