Perret’s snout-burrower  (Hemisus perreti)

Classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).

Very little is known about this peculiar-looking frog. Hemisus species are known as the shovel-nosed frogs, after their robust, pointed snout (2). The snout, along with the solid, bony skull, forms a highly modified head for the frog’s head-first burrowing behaviour (3). The limbs of Peret’s snout-burrower are short and its pupils are vertically elliptical (2).

Perret’s snout-burrowers have been recorded from western Democratic Republic of Congo, north of the Congo River estuary; and in south-western Gabon, in Petit Loango National Park and the Reserve de Faune de la Moukalaba-Dougoua. It is presumed that Perret’s snout-burrower occurs in the areas of Congo and Cabinda (Angola), between these locations (4).

The Perret’s snout-burrower has been found in pristine lowland rainforest, secondary forest, and in small forest patches in savannah, from sea level up to an elevation of 110 metres (4).

Shovel-nosed frogs are all terrestrial burrowers (2), and burrow head first, in contrast to many other burrowers (3). This underground life style means that the Perret’s snout-burrower may be a fairly common species, but is frequently unseen (4). The breeding habits of the virtually unstudied Perret’s snout-burrower are unknown, but it is assumed that it is similar to that of other Hemisus species. To mate, the male presumably adopts a position called amplexus, in which he clasps the female from behind (2). The female then deposits fertilised eggs in an underground burrow, close to water, which is carefully guarded. The female burrows an escape tunnel from the burrow to the water, so that when the larvae hatch, they can move into the water to develop into free-swimming tadpoles (2) (4).

There is so little information regarding Perret’s snout-burrower, that the World Conservation Union (IUCN) has been unable to assess its risk of extinction, and has therefore classified it as Data Deficient (1). However, the limited data currently available do not indicate any direct threats to this secretive frog (4).

The Perret’s snout-burrower occurs in two protected areas in Gabon: Petit Loango National Park and the Reserve de Faune de la Moukalaba-Dougoua (4). Further research into Perret’s snout burrowers is clearly needed (4), to determine whether this species is facing any direct threats, and to inform appropriate conservation measures if required.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.