Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Amphibia
- Order: Anura
- Family: Phrynobatrachidae
- Genus: Phrynobatrachus
- Species: Phrynobatrachus minutus
- Authority: (Boulenger, 1905)
Common name – Often referred to as the “minute puddle frog.”
Distribution
Phrynobatrachus minutus is known from Central and West Africa, with confirmed records in Cameroon, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo.
Habitat
The species inhabits lowland tropical moist forests and adjacent savanna–forest ecotones. It is typically found near temporary pools, marshes, and other small bodies of water where breeding occurs.
Physical description
- Small-bodied anuran; adult snout‑vent length ranges approximately 15–20 mm.
- Dorsal coloration is generally brownish to grayish with subtle patterning that provides camouflage on leaf litter.
- The skin is smooth but may exhibit slight granular texture on the ventral surface.
Ecology and behavior
- Primarily terrestrial, moving among leaf litter and low vegetation.
- Breeding is associated with rain‑filled temporary pools; eggs are laid directly in the water.
- Tadpoles develop rapidly to exploit the brief availability of suitable aquatic habitats.
Conservation status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently lists Phrynobatrachus minutus as Least Concern, citing a relatively wide distribution and presumed large population. No major threats have been identified, although habitat alteration due to agriculture and logging could locally affect populations.
References
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (latest assessment).
- Amphibian Species of the World, an Online Reference (American Museum of Natural History).
Note: All information presented is derived from established herpetological and conservation databases.
