Hemisotidae

Hemisotidae, or shovelnose frogs Shovelnose frogs are a family of anuran amphibians.

Representatives of the family are distributed in tropical and subtropical countries of Africa south of the Sahara. The family contains one genus, Hemisus, including 9 species: Hemisus barotseensis Hemisus brachydactylus Hemisus guineensis Hemisus guttatus Hemisus marmoratus Hemisus microscaphus Hemisus olivaceus Hemisus perreti Hemisus wittei Body size of these amphibians is 22-75 mm. The body is rounded with short limbs. The head is small and narrow with an upturned snout, which they use for burrowing into soil. Their hard pointed snouts, strong fore- and hindlimbs, and loss of sternum allow these frogs to dig rapidly and efficiently with the head.

They lay eggs underground in lowlands near the end of the dry season.

Hemisus guttatus Hemisus wittei Hemisus marmoratus Hemisus guineensis Sources: https://amphibiaweb.org/lists/Hemisotidae.shtml https://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hemisotidae/