Hymenochirus boettgeri

Hymenochirus boettgeri
Hymenochirus boettgeri
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Pipidae
Genus:	Hymenochirus
Species:	H. boettgeri
Binomial name
Hymenochirus boettgeri (Tornier, 1896)
Synonyms
Xenopus boettgeri Tornier, 1896

Hymenochirus boettgeri, also known as Zaire dwarf clawed frog^[2] or Congo dwarf clawed frog,^[1] is a species of frog in the family Pipidae. It is found in Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and east to the Central African Republic and to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.^[1][2] It presumably occurs in the Republic of the Congo but has not been recorded there.^[1]

Habitat

Hymenochirus boettgeri is an aquatic frog that generally occurs in still, shaded water in lowland rainforest and in pools by slow-flowing rivers.^[1]

In captivity

This species is also bred and sold as aquatic pets, often under name African dwarf frog that also includes other Hymenochirus species.^[3] As pets, African dwarf frogs can live peacefully among other fish in an aquarium. Their tank mates should be neither large enough to pose a predatory threat to the frogs, nor small enough to become food for the frogs themselves. They are not an especially demanding species, and can be kept in most standard aquarium setups. Seeing as how they must breathe air to survive and can escape from the tank, aquariums that are not too tall and are well-covered are a must. They can be fed a diet of suitably-sized food items designed for use with aquarium fish, including live, frozen and freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex worms, and brine shrimp. These frogs are not picky but overfeeding will quickly lead to obesity. They will also eat any form of prepared food that sinks to the bottom.^[3][4]

References