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((Short description|Genus of amphibians))
((More citations needed|date=October 2012))
((automatic taxobox
| name = African dwarf frogs
| image = African dwarf frog.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Hymenochirus boettgeri]]''
| taxon = Hymenochirus
| authority = [[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], 1896
| type_species = ''[[Hymenochirus boettgeri]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Gustav Tornier|Tornier]], 1896
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 4 species (see [[#Species|text]])
))
'''African dwarf frog'''<ref name=FrogWorld/> is the common name for members of '''''Hymenochirus''''', a [[genus]] of aquatic frog native to parts of [[Equatorial Africa]].<ref name=FrogWorld/><ref name=Frost/> They are common in the pet trade and are often mistaken for the [[African clawed frog]], a similar-looking frog in the same family. African dwarf frogs (''Hymenochirus'' spp). Their common name is obtained from their place of origin and the claws on their hind legs.

==Distribution==
African dwarf frogs occur in [[Freshwater swamp forest|forested]] parts of equatorial Africa, from [[Nigeria]] and [[Cameroon]] in the north, and south through [[Gabon]] and east throughout the [[Congo River]] Basin.<ref name=Frost/>

==Species==
There are four species:<ref name=Frost/><ref name=AmphibiaWeb/>
* Zaire dwarf clawed frog, ''[[Hymenochirus boettgeri]]'' <small>Tornier, 1896</small>
* Eastern dwarf clawed frog, ''[[Hymenochirus boulengeri]]'' <small>De Witte, 1930</small>
* Western dwarf clawed frog, ''[[Hymenochirus curtipes]]'' <small>Noble, 1924</small>
* Gaboon dwarf clawed frog, ''[[Hymenochirus feae]]'' <small>Boulenger, 1906</small>

==Description==
African dwarf frogs live their entire lives underwater, but need to rise to the surface to breathe air as they have [[lungs]] and not [[gills]]. These frogs are small in size and do not weigh more than a few grams. They vary in color, mostly ranging from olive green to brown with black spots. The average [[life expectancy]] of these frogs is five years, but they have been known to live longer than 20 years,<ref>The oldest extant specimen, named Gamzu, is over 23 years old.</ref> and they can grow to 1" to 1.5" long. African dwarf frogs can be mistaken for and are often sold as young [[African clawed frog]]s, of the genus ''[[Xenopus]]'', which are larger and more aggressive than the dwarf. ((Citation needed|date=April 2017))

All species of [[Pipidae]] are tongueless, toothless, and completely aquatic. They use their webbed feet to shove food in their mouths and down their throats, and a hyobranchial pump to draw or suck food into their mouths. Pipidae have powerful legs for swimming and lunging after food. They also use the claws on their feet to tear pieces of large food. They lack true ears, but have lateral lines running down the length of their bodies ((Citation needed|date=April 2017)) and undersides; this is how they can sense movements and vibration in the water. They use their sensitive fingers, sense of smell, and lateral line system to find food. They are scavengers and will eat anything living, dying, or dead and any type of organic detritus.

These frogs have tiny black claws on their hind legs, which caused one of their discoverers, [[Oskar Boettger]], to originally call them African dwarf clawed frogs,<ref>((cite web |url=http://www.pipidae.net/species_literature_hymenochirus.php |title=The early species names of Hymenochirus |publisher=Pipidae.net |access-date=2012-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514024103/http://www.pipidae.net/species_literature_hymenochirus.php |archive-date=2014-05-14 |url-status=dead ))</ref> but they quickly lose these black tips in the sharp pebble environments and are more commonly called African dwarf frogs today. African Dwarf Frogs can swim up to 4 [[miles per hour]] (6 [[kilometers per hour]]).<ref>https://sites.google.com/mcbe-k12.net/infofromanimals/home info from animals by Harper Langley and Eli Holcomb on 2021-3-29</ref>

==In the wild==
[[File:Young male DAF.jpg|thumb|Note the black claws on hind legs|left]]

This African frog habitat in the wild consists of shallow rivers, creeks, and ponds during the dry season and in the flooded areas of the forests during the wet season. These creatures prefer eating near the bottom where their coloration blends with the mud and [[leaf litter]] and they can be safe from predators. ((Citation needed|date=April 2017)) 

[[Male]]s are slim and develop a small gland behind each of their front legs; this gland is not very well understood but is believed to play some part in [[mating]]. The gland is a small white spot on both sides, a minor outward bulge on both sides of the frog. Males are known to “sing” or “hum” during mating or when excited, although they sometimes “hum” even if they have no intention of mating. The [[female]]s of this species are 40% larger than males when fully mature. They have [[pear]]-shaped bodies, as their [[abdomen]]s fill with eggs as they reach a mating stage. Another distinction is the females have a more pronounced genital region, called an [[ovipositor]].

African dwarf frogs mate in [[amplexus]], during which the male grabs the female around the abdomen just in front of her back legs. The female becomes motionless, and her front limbs may twitch sporadically. Amplexus usually happens at night after one or more nights of “humming” by the male. During amplexus, the female swims, laying [[egg]]s on the surface of the water, one at a time, whilst towing the male. She swims to the bottom between layings. The male fertilizes the eggs during this time by releasing [[sperm]] into the water. Amplexus can last for several hours. When the female has laid all her eggs, she signals the male once more by going motionless, and after several minutes, the male releases the female and she returns to her normal behavior.

==As pets==
African dwarf frogs are commonly found as pets. They first became popular in the 1970s and have spread to the pet trade all over the world.((citation needed|date=May 2014)) They are desirable pets because of their low maintenance requirements compared to other amphibians. African clawed frogs are often sold erroneously as African dwarf frogs. The astute pet owner can recognize the difference, however, because: 
* Dwarf frogs have four webbed feet. African clawed frogs have webbed hind feet while their front feet have autonomous digits.
* African dwarf frogs have eyes positioned on the sides of their heads, while African clawed frogs have eyes on the tops of their heads.
* African clawed frogs have curved, flat snouts. The snout of an African dwarf frog is pointed.

African dwarf frogs are very active and rarely sit still for any period of time. When stationary, the African dwarf frog has been known to float in one spot, with its limbs completely outstretched, on the surface of the water. This is normal behavior, called "burbling". Sometimes they just float with limbs spread out, drifting on the surface. African dwarf frogs are generally peaceful with [[animal]]s of their own size, but their diet sometimes include smaller animals. [[Fish]] are known to eat the [[egg (biology)|eggs]] of these frogs. African dwarf frogs spend most of their time near the bottom of the water, where they feel safe from predators. Most frogs sleep up to 12 hours a day, provided no threat of predators is present.

These frogs are suggested to be kept in a group of two or more due to their social nature. Despite being fully aquatic, the African dwarf frog still needs to be able to reach the surface to breathe. These amphibians are not great swimmers, so water currents should be kept low and deep tanks may pose a challenge to their ability to breathe. In the wild, the Congo forest floods yearly to a depth of 24 inches or more, so any depth less than that will be suitable. They also should be kept in an enclosure with a secure cover to prevent escape and plenty of hiding spaces as in the wild they tend to be prey to a variety of animals and open spaces cause skittish behavior. The frogs eat any smaller fish. The optimum water temperature is 75–82&nbsp;°F. The pH of the water should be maintained between 6.5 and 7.5. These frogs cannot survive out of water for longer than 20 minutes in low humidity, as they dry out.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.bigalspets.com/resources/aquatic-frogs/ |title=Aquatic Frogs |publisher=bigalspets.com |access-date=2015-01-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108203953/http://www.bigalspets.com/resources/aquatic-frogs/ |archive-date=2015-01-08 ))</ref>
<!-- how-to
They are compatible with most bottom feeders and algae eaters. Respectful tropical fish such as [[neon tetra]]s can also be used as tankmates, although aggressive fish will often stress or injure the frogs. As African dwarf frogs are slow eaters, it is not uncommon for tankmates to eat all the food while the frogs go hungry. If this becomes a problem, methods of delivering the food directly to the bottom of the tank (such as with a turkey baster) should be employed to ensure the frogs are adequately fed. African dwarfs can also learn to climb into a cupped hand or a [[brine shrimp]] net that is lifted to the tank surface. The frogs can then be fed live blackworms from a pipette, or small frog pellets. This prevents harassment from fish. 
African dwarf frogs do not have [[teeth]], so they swallow their food whole. Common foods include [[Chironomidae#Behavior and description|blood worm]]s, brine shrimp, [[water flea]]s (daphnia), [[shrimp]], and various brands of commercial frog food. These frogs will also eat [[mosquito]] [[larva]]e, [[black worm]]s, guppy fry, glassworms, tadpole bites, reptomin, gammarus, dried krill, baby shrimp, frozen beefheart, small fish, and small [[earthworm]]s. On rare occasions, these frogs will eat water [[snail]]s and brittle [[Seashell|shell]]s. African dwarf frogs are [[bottom-feeder]]s and are rarely seen eating at the surface of the water.-->

Because they are fragile animals, care should be taken when handling African dwarf frogs, especially when considering them as a pet for young children. These frogs should only be held outside the tank max of 5-10 minutes, but it is better not to, for the safety of the frog.

==References==
((Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=AmphibiaWeb>((cite web |url=http://www.amphibiaweb.org/lists/Pipidae.shtml|title=Pipidae |year=2016 |work=AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application] |publisher=Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb |access-date=16 August 2016))</ref>

<ref name=FrogWorld>((cite web |url=http://frogworld.net/african-dwarf-frog/ |title=African Dwarf Frog |year=2008 |work=Frog World |access-date=16 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208235414/http://frogworld.net/african-dwarf-frog/ |archive-date=2016-12-08 |url-status=dead ))</ref>

<ref name=Frost>((cite web |url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia123/index.php//Amphibia/Anura/Pipidae/Hymenochirus |title=''Hymenochirus'' Boulenger, 1896 |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2016 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |access-date=16 August 2016))</ref>
))

==External links==
* [http://theaquariumwiki.com/DAF The Aquarium Wiki Encyclopaedia] - Aquarium care profile of this frog

((Taxonbar|from=Q244210))

((DEFAULTSORT:African Dwarf Frog))
[[Category:Pipidae]]
[[Category:Hymenochirus| ]]
[[Category:Frogs of Africa]]
[[Category:Taxa named by George Albert Boulenger]]

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