including the ability to burrow up to 20 centimetres deep (8 inches). They have also been observed to puff up their body to make them up to 7 times larger as a defence mechanism. When in danger, they fill up with air to appear bigger in an attempt to ward off predators like bush pigs, birds, and snakes. They are also able to use this ability to jam themselves in their burrows preventing some snakes from pulling them out of the burrow Their distress call is a short high pitched chirp. They also have small lumps all over their body. This is believed to be a mechanism to deter predators as to a predator these lumps appear poisonous although it is not believed that they are poisonous. Conservation Breviceps fuscus is a locally abundant species but the exact population is not known. It does not tolerate habitat disturbance, so habitat loss caused by afforestation, the spread of alien vegetation, and too frequent fires are threats to it. However, overall, its habitat is well protected and it occurs in several protected areas. Taxonomy The specific name fuscus refers to the dark colouration of this species as the animal is usually dark brown or black. The black rain frog was first described by John Hewitt, in 1925 after a specimen was collected in Knysna. Feeding Like many other frogs the breviceps fucus is an Insectivore which feeds on small insects, spiders, insect larvae and worms. Classification The Breviceps fuscus was originally classified as a member of the Microhylidae but polygenic research led to the family Brevicipitidae being classified as a family of its own and Breviceps fuscus was included in it along with the other frogs in its genus. References Further reading Alan Changing (2001) Amphibians of South Africa fuscus Frogs of Africa Endemic amphibians of South Africa Amphibians described in 1925 Taxa named by John Hewitt (herpetologist) Taxonomy articles created by Polbot