Several species in the genus are threatened because of habitat loss and overcollection for the international pet trade.

Species within the genus are robust burrowing frogs, and they have an explosive breeding behavior.

[2] This type of behavior is typically seen for species living within temporary and seasonal habitats, which is the case in Madagascar.

[2] The two subgenera, Scaphiophryne and Pseudohemisus, are monophyletic based on molecular analysis.

The species within the Scaphiophryne subgenera are lineages that have been confirmed to be evolutionarily independent.