If you've been traumatized, creeped or just grossed out by our “real monster” stories lately, I'm here to assure you there are plenty more to come... because let's face it, there's enough creepy material in the natural world to give us, our children and even their children nightmares for life. But on rare occasions we find a mini-monster whose only distinctive trait is being cute. This is one of those times.
Image: Dean Boshoff
The desert rain frog (species Breviceps macrops) is a sand-dwelling amphibian native to the southern tip of Africa, living beneath the sand near the coasts of South Africa and Namibia. While it's unusual to find a typically water-dwelling creature in some of the driest regions on Earth, this little guy seems to be doing just fine... until recently, that is; his habitat is becoming increasingly threatened by road construction and diamond mining.
Image: Dean Boshoff
Breviceps is a featured creature on I Fucking Love Science, who recently posted a video of the frog taken by wildlife photographer Dean Boshoff. In the clip, shot in the coastal town of Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, the little guy demonstrates what Boshoff calls his “fearsome war cry.” I'm assuming he's being a bit sarcastic there, considering this thing sounds about as threatening as a week-old kitten. Awwwww, right?
Let's face it, it's tough to find an example of a truly scary frog. Unless, of course, you happen to find one in your salad...