Shovelnose frog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shovelnose frogs |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Hemisotidae
Cope, 1867
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| Genus: |
Hemisus
Günther, 1859
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Hemisus barotseensis |
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| Distribution of Hemisotidae (in black) | |
The shovelnose frogs are nine species of frog in the genus, Hemisus. The is the only genus in the Family Hemisotidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical sub-Saharan Africa.
The shovelnose frogs are medium 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.
The shovelnose frogs are digging frogs. They live most of their life underground. The female will dig underground while it is in amplexus. It then will lay the eggs in an underground hole. The male will leave through the tunnel, and the female will stay with the eggs. Once enough rain has fallen, the female will dig, with her nose, towards a water source. The tadpoles will stay there until metamorphosis. The tadpoles may stay out of water for up to a few days.
Unlike most digging frogs, the shovelnose frogs dig head first. Other frogs dig 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)
See also
In Spanish: Hemisus para niños
