As the hot summer rolls in around October, we start to notice slight changes in the bushveld. You may see small sprouts of greenery from fresh rains coming back and hear the iconic call of the Woodland Kingfisher. As you appreciate the small changes, like the warmth of the sun rising earlier, you will notice clouds of white foam among the trees hanging over bodies of water, seasonal or stagnate.
This marks the beginning of the Foam Nest Frog breeding season as they make their way out of hibernation. There are many types of Foam Nest Frogs, the species we encounter at Cheetah Plains is the Southern Foam Nest Frog.
The Foam Haven Breeding Process
The perfect conditions for this species to breed are between the hot summer rainy season between October and February. When the male frogs select a mating site, usually on a branch meters above water, they will create a call. A female will be attracted to this, and a male will latch on to her. The female excretes a white sticky substance, which she uses to create foam by kicking her legs in this process. This creates a safe space for her eggs. A number of the male frogs will then compete to fertilise these eggs as she releases them, this movement allows the foam to thicken. However, the male latched onto the female will be the one to fertilise the eggs.
Once the nest is filled with fertilised eggs, the female leaves to rehydrate and may repeat the process at another site. She will go back to add more foam to the nest. The eggs remain in this nest for five to six days, during which time the foam hardens and insulates, creating a protective shell. This is a moist, safe haven for the eggs to transition into tadpoles. Birds and other predators are deterred from the nest by the foul taste of the foam. Natures wonderful way of protecting its creature.
As the tadpoles squirm, they break the bottom of the nest and drop into the water below, where they will complete their life cycle.
This ritual is a fascinating one of many small titbits to learn about the African bushveld. Next time you visit Cheetah Plains, take note of the small details, like this intricate breeding process of the Southern Foam Nest Frogs. You never know what interesting facts you might discover.
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