Eastern olive toad

Introduction: Eastern Olive toad's (Amietophrynus garmani) are named after the American fish scientist, S.W. Garman (1843-1927) of Harvard University. Features include a thickset body, large eyes and a blunt snout. They inhabit vleis and pans with relatively high rainfall, typically bushveld savannah as well as suburban gardens. Males call close to the water.

Distribution: The far eastern reaches of the Zambezi Region (formerly the Caprivi Strip).

Diet: Snatches and catches any insect that comes into range.

Colouration: Upper parts are dark chocolate or reddish-brown patches on a yellow brown background. The rough skin is covered with warts, each with a black tip. The underside is a leathery, granular dirty white. Often confused with the western olive toad, but has a different call and length of foot.

Breeding: Tadpoles are free-swimming after around 24 days, changing into frogs from a period of 64 to 90 days.

Maximum size: 115mm.