### Identification The Common Caco (*Cacosternum boettgeri*) is a diminutive marvel, rarely exceeding 25mm in length. While their dorsal patterns are a dizzying mosaic of greens, browns, and greys—sometimes sporting a neat vertebral stripe or bold spots—the real giveaway is on the underside. Flip one over (gently!) to reveal a brilliant white belly scattered with bold, dark-grey smudges or "ink spots." Unlike the similar Bronze Caco, which prefers permanent water, Boettger’s has a more rounded snout and lacks the distinct dark "mask" behind the eye.
### Habitat & Range This is one of Southern Africa’s most successful amphibians, ranging from the tip of the Western Cape through to Zimbabwe and Namibia. They are true generalists, thriving in everything from montane grasslands to suburban lawns. You’ll find them most active in seasonally inundated areas—think flooded paddocks, roadside ditches, and temporary pans where the vegetation is thick enough to provide cover.
### Behaviour To find a Caco, follow your ears. After a heavy summer rain, males create a deafening "clicking" chorus that sounds exactly like two marbles being struck together in rapid succession (*crick-et, crick-et*). They are master ventriloquists; as you approach, the sound seems to jump from one grass tuft to another. They are explosive breeders, taking advantage of ephemeral pools that vanish as quickly as they appear.
### Diet As micro-predators, these frogs are the "pest control" of the undergrowth. They forage primarily at night, lunging at tiny invertebrates like ants, termites, and small mites. Their small size allows them to hunt in the narrow crevices of soil and grass roots where larger frogs cannot reach.
### Fascinating Fact The Common Caco is a champion of opportunism: they can complete their entire life cycle—from egg to froglet—in a puddle as small and shallow as a cow’s hoofprint. This "micro-nursery" strategy allows them to thrive in arid regions where larger bodies of water are non-existent.