It feeds on worms and small insects. When alarmed, it increases its apparent size by swallowing air; hence the species is given the Afrikaans common name of blaasoppie. As burrowing frogs, they have thick, muscular legs, which enable them to burrow for shelter. This species does not require open water to breed; in fact, it cannot swim and will drown if placed in water. Habitat The cape rain frog is endemic to Fynbos biomes in the southwestern parts of the Western Cape of South Africa. These ecosystems are lush with natural shrub land, forests and woodlands. Fynbos biomes are located in both the Southern and Western cape of South Africa. Rain frogs are also known to live underground in burrows they create by burrowing backward while simultaneously scooping sand to cover themselves. Cape rain frogs can also be found in developed areas like agricultural grounds, pine plantations and residential gardens. Breeding During mating season, males call from beneath vegetation or from their burrows so that the females can locate them. Since he is too small to get a firm grip on the female, she secretes a sticky liquid that glues him to her back. Fertilization takes place in a burrow that the female has dug where groups of approximately 22 eggs are laid. They lay fertile eggs and jelly capsules, which provide moisture for the developing froglets. The females will remain burrowed near the eggs until they become young froglets without undergoing the tadpole stage. Conservation The species is currently classified as near threatened by the IUCN. The main threats consist of ongoing habitat loss in the diminishing fynbos biomes, through the expansion of urban sprawl and agriculture. The main threat to this species survival is habitat destruction and degradation. Due to rapid urbanization, the cape frogs Fynbos habitat suffers from destruction and fragmentation which diminishes the species population. Currently there are no restoration projects proposed, however there are populations of this species in projected parks. Parks include Cape Peninsula National Park, Helderberg Nature Reserve and Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve. Domestic conservation efforts concerning the cape frog populations in residential areas include prevention of paving ground and prevention of converting open spaces into urban development. Feeding The diet of the cape rain frog consist mainly worms, termites and other insects. Survival like most frogs in its genus the cape rain frog has a unique body shape preventing it from jumping