This species is named for the Latin 'borealis' meaning northern.
Xenopus borealis is a small clawed frog with olive to brown skin, occasionally with darker mottling. The vent can be bright orange which is concentrated in axilliary areas with a paler vent, all with black splotches to varying degree of intensity. Lateral lines appear as “stitching” all over the body, but obviously in rings around the eyes. Males develop dark nuptial pads on the arms during breeding periods, females have three cloacal lips which become pink and swollen (Text from Harper et al., 2010).
The sub-ocular tentacle of X. borealis is much shorter than ½ the diameter of the eye, while that of X. muelleri is greater than ½ the diameter of the eye (Text from Harper et al., 2010).
Males are 50 -60 mm, and females are 59 - 80 mm (Harper et al., 2010).
This species is found in permanent ponds within forest or agricultural landscapes. It is also often found in small wells, which it falls into when dispersing. It is distributed at elevations between 600 and 1700 m (Harper et al., 2010).
Breeding activity starts with the onset of heavy rains. Males call from within the water (although the calls can be heard sometimes quite loudly but muffled from outside), and appear to be very territorial getting into wrestling matches with other males. Males clasp females in inguinal amplexus, swimming underwater and depositing eggs singly onto vegetation. Tadpoles are suspension feeders which swim in schools hanging in mid-water with just a flicker at the ends of their tails. They resemble catfish with long tentacles projecting from the corners of their wide mouths (Text from Harper et al., 2010).