African dwarf frogs occur in forested parts of equatorial Africa, from Nigeria and Cameroon in the north, and south through Gabon and east throughout the Congo River Basin.

They lack true ears, but have lateral lines running down the length of their bodies and undersides;[citation needed] this is how they can sense movements and vibration in the water.

These creatures prefer eating near the bottom where their coloration blends with the mud and leaf litter and they can be safe from predators.

African dwarf frogs mate in amplexus, during which the male grabs the female around the abdomen just in front of its back legs.

During amplexus, the female swims, laying eggs on the surface of the water, one at a time, whilst towing the male.

The astute pet owner can recognize the difference, however, because: 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.

African dwarf frogs spend most of their time near the bottom of the water, where they feel safe from predators.

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.

[7] Because they are fragile animals, care should be taken when handling African dwarf frogs, especially when considering them as a pet for young children.