Ornate Frog

The ornate frog (Hildebrandtia Ornata) has variable bold symmetrical patterns in green, orange, brown and white. It also has horizontal pupils and a black throat with a pair of broad white Y-shaped stripes. Its call is a long nasal quack about one every two seconds. The species breeds in shallow pans of the Krugger National Park area, in Zimbabwe as well as in Mozambique.

Extinction of the species is listed as least concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a wide variety of habitats and its presumed large population. It is also found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon to Zambia among other countries.

It is a burrowing species, only seen above ground during the breeding season. It occurs in dry and more humid savannas, and it is absent from pockets of forest and high rocky terrain within its range. It is able to survive in modified habitats. It is an explosive breeder and is known to breed in large temporary waters and small mud holes with and without vegetation. These are not common habitats, hence its patchy distribution.