genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
frog
A frog is any member of a diverse and largely Carnivore, carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order (biology), order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-f ...
s in the family
Ptychadenidae
Ptychadenidae is a family of frogs commonly known as the grassland frogs. These frogs occur in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ptychadenidae was previously considered to be a tribe or subfamily in the family Ranidae, but its position as a separate famil ...
. They are distributed in tropical and subtropical
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the List of sov ...
. The common name of this genus is Hildebrandt's burrowing frogs or ornate frogs. The genus name honours
Johann Maria Hildebrandt
Johann Maria Hildebrandt (born 13 or 19 March 1847; died 29 May 1881) was a German explorer, collector, and scientist.
Biography
Hildebrandt was born in Düsseldorf, Germany, to a family of painters. Originally a machine maker, he lost an eye a ...
, a German botanist and explorer.
Description and ecology
''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
A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to ...
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
tadpole
A tadpole is the larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial. Tadpoles have some fish-like features that may not be found i ...
s are robust-bodied with a muscular tail and low tail fin. They have strong jaws and are carnivorous.