Shovelnose frog

The shovelnose frogs are nine species of frog in the genus, Hemisus, the only genus in the Family Hemisotidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical sub-Saharan Africa. The shovelnose frogs are moderate sized frogs, reaching a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in). They are round-bodied, with short legs. Their head is small and narrow, with a hard, upturned nose.^[1]

The shovelnose frogs are burrowing frogs, living most of their life underground. The female will dig underground while it is in amplexus, and lay the eggs in an underground cavity. The male will leave through the tunnel, and the female will remain with the eggs. Once sufficient rain has fallen, the female will burrow, with her nose, towards a water source where the tadpoles will remain until metamorphosis.^[1] The tadpoles may remain out of water for up to a few days.

Unlike most burrowing frogs, the shovelnose frogs burrow head first, as opposed to rear first. Some species are kept as pets.

Species

Family HEMISOTIDAE

• Genus Hemisus
  • Hemisus barotseensis - Mongu Shovelnose Frog (Channing & Broadley, 2002)
  • Hemisus brachydactylus - Masiliwa Shovelnose Frog (Laurent, 1963)
  • Hemisus guineensis - Guinea Shovelnose Frog (Cope, 1865)
  • Hemisus guttatus - Spotted Shovelnose Frog (Rapp, 1842)
  • Hemisus marmoratus - Marbled Shovelnose Frog (Steindachner, 1863)
  • Hemisus microscaphus - Lake Zwei Shovelnose Frog (Laurent, 1972)
  • Hemisus olivaceus - Olive Shovelnose Frog (Laurent, 1963)
  • Hemisus perreti - Perret's Shovelnose Frog (Laurent, 1972)
  • Hemisus wittei - Witte's Shovelnose Frog (Laurent, 1963)

References

• Cogger, H.G.; R.G. Zweifel, and D. Kirschner (2004). Encyclopedia of Reptiles & Amphibians Second Edition. Fog City Press. ISBN 1-877019-69-0. 
• Amphibian Species of the World: Hemisus