One of Zululand's coolest frog species!

The Spotted Shovel-nosed Frog (Hemisus guttatus), is one of the most interesting-looking frog species around!

It occurs in and around Hluhluwe, in the Isimangaliso Wetland Park and further South.

These fairly large frogs do not hop like most frogs, instead they have a comical walk which they use to get around on the surface. There name comes from it's hardened, pointed nose which it uses for burrowing underground, where it spends most of it's time. They have powerful back legs, which they also use for burrowing by pushing their nose into the soil!

They even breed underground, laying eggs in damp soil in wetland areas. They only really come up to the surface after heavy rain, where they can be heard calling to find mates.

This species is listed as Vulnerable. They don't really occur in high densities, so each breeding population is valuable to the conservation of this species. Like most animals, habitat destruction is the main threat facing this remarkable frog species.

To see one is always special, and not something seen everyday.