Tandys sand frog

Introduction: Tandy's sand frog (Tomopterna tandyi) are named after the American zoologist, Mills Tandy, who is credited with collecting the first specimen. Their habitat range is wide and they are most common in Nama Karoo grassland and savannah. Calls are a series of quick, high-pitched melodious notes, lasting for several seconds.

Distribution: Throughout Namibia including the Namib Desert, Etosha National Park, Kalahari Desert, Orange River, Fish River Canyon, Zambezi Region (formerly the Caprivi Strip), Kavango and Kunene Regions and the central plateau.

Diet: Insects, earthworms, spiders.

Colouration: Brown to grey upperparts with lighter and darker patches. Other features include a pale vertebral line and a pair of pale dorsalateral lines. The skin is warty, the underside white.

Breeding: Breeds in small streams, farm dams, pans and temporary rain pools.

Maximum size: 55mm.