Shovelnose frogs
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Suborder:	Neobatrachia
Family:	Hemisotidae Cope, 1867
Genus:	Hemisus Günther, 1859
Species
Hemisus barotseensis Hemisus brachydactylus Hemisus guineensis Hemisus guttatus Hemisus marmoratus Hemisus microscaphus Hemisus olivaceus Hemisus perreti Hemisus wittei
Distribution of Hemisotidae (in black)

The shovelnose frogs are nine species of frog in the genus, Hemisus. The is the only genus in the Family Hemisotidae. They are found in tropical and subtropical sub-Saharan Africa.

The shovelnose frogs are medium sized frogs, reaching a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in). They are round-bodied, with short legs. Their head is small and narrow, with a hard, upturned nose.

The shovelnose frogs are digging frogs. They live most of their life underground. The female will dig underground while it is in amplexus. It then will lay the eggs in an underground hole. The male will leave through the tunnel, and the female will stay with the eggs. Once enough rain has fallen, the female will dig, with her nose, towards a water source. The tadpoles will stay there until metamorphosis. The tadpoles may stay out of water for up to a few days.