Hildebrandtia (frog)

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Hildebrandtia
Hildebrandtia ornata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ptychadenidae
Genus: Hildebrandtia
Nieden, 1907
Type species
Pyxicephalus ornatus
Peters, 1878

Hildebrandtia is a genus of frogs in the family Ptychadenidae.[1][2][3][4] They are distributed in tropical and subtropical Sub-Saharan Africa. The common name of this genus is Hildebrandt's burrowing frogs or ornate frogs.[1] The genus name honours Johann Maria Hildebrandt, a German botanist and explorer.[5]

Description and ecology[edit]

Hildebrandtia are medium-sized to large frogs with stocky bodies. They use their large inner metatarsal tubercles for digging. They live in dry to very dry savanna habitats and stay hidden in their burrows most of the year. Reproduction takes place in temporary ponds and puddles at the beginning of the rainy season. The tadpoles are robust-bodied with a muscular tail and low tail fin. They have strong jaws and are carnivorous.[3]

Species[edit]

There are three species in this genus:[1][2][3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Frost, Darrel R. (2020). "Hildebrandtia Nieden, 1907". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Ptychadenidae". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Channing, Allan & Rödel, Mark-Oliver (2019). Field Guide to the Frogs & other Amphibians of Africa. Cape Town: Struik Nature. p. 322. ISBN 978-1-77584-512-6.
  4. ^ "Hildebrandtia Nieden, 1907". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  5. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 95. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.