# Knocking sand frog

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{{Short description|Species of amphibian}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Knocking sand frog
| image = Tomopterna krugerensis.jpg
| status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 15 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group |date=2013 |title=''Tomopterna krugerensis'' |volume=2013 |article-number=e.T58777A3073960 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T58777A3073960.en |access-date=15 November 2021}}</ref>
| taxon = Tomopterna krugerensis
| authority = Passmore and Carruthers, 1975<ref name="Passmore and Carruthers 1975"/>
}}

The '''knocking sand frog''' (''Tomopterna krugerensis''), also known as '''sandveld pyxie''' or '''Kruger burrowing frog''', is a species of [frog](/source/frog) in the family [Pyxicephalidae](/source/Pyxicephalidae). It is found in southern Angola, Namibia, Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique, northern South Africa, and Eswatini.<ref name="iucn status 15 November 2021" /><ref name=Frost/> This species was discovered during the evening of 23 October 1973 in South Africa's [Kruger National Park](/source/Kruger_National_Park). Two weeks after heavy rain fell in the area, large numbers were found around the Machayi and Mathlakuza Pans in the northeastern part of the Park near the Mozambican frontier.<ref>{{cite book |title=Die Paddas van die Nasionale Krugerwildtuin |author=Pienaar |author2=Passmore |author3=Carruthers |publisher=Sigma Press |year=1976}}</ref>

==Description==
Males measure {{convert|38|-|45|mm|abbr=on}} and females {{convert|41|-|46|mm|abbr=on}} in snout–vent length. It is a stout frog with short, broad head. The fore limbs are also short and stout, whereas the hind limbs are longer than body when extended. Fingers have no webbing whereas the toes have some webbing. The [tympanum](/source/Tympanum_(anatomy)) is present but can be indistinct. The [dorsum](/source/Dorsum_(anatomy)) is typically cream-beige, but may vary from very pale grey-brown to a mid-brown. There are many irregular, khaki-brown markings, outlined with dark-brown to black. There are also bright orange tubercles scattered over entire dorsum, each with a black rim. The venter is immaculate white.<ref name="Passmore and Carruthers 1975"/>

''Tomopterna krugerensis'' is not morphologically distinguishable from ''[Tomopterna cryptotis](/source/Tomopterna_cryptotis)'' and ''[Tomopterna tandyi](/source/Tomopterna_tandyi)'', but the male advertisement call is distinct:<ref name="iucn status 15 November 2021" /> a slowly repetitive, percussive "knock" or "cluck", almost like a [metronome](/source/metronome).<ref name="Passmore and Carruthers 1975"/>

==Habitat and conservation==
Knocking sand frog is a [savanna](/source/savanna) species that seems to prefer sandy soils. It can also survive in disturbed areas. Breeding takes place in temporary waterbodies (both large and small), including [pans](/source/Dry_lake), [vlei](/source/vlei)s, and flooded grassland.<ref name="iucn status 15 November 2021" /> It is an adaptable species facing no significant threats and occurring in many protected areas<ref name="iucn status 15 November 2021" />—including the [Kruger National Park](/source/Kruger_National_Park), after which it is named.<ref name="Passmore and Carruthers 1975"/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=Frost>{{cite web |url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/Amphibia/Anura/Pyxicephalidae/Cacosterninae/Tomopterna/Tomopterna-krugerensis |title=''Tomopterna krugerensis'' Passmore and Carruthers, 1975 |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2017 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |access-date=15 April 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="Passmore and Carruthers 1975">{{cite journal |last1=Passmore|first1=N. I.|last2=Carruthers|first2=V. C.|title=A new species of ''Tomopterna'' (Anura: Ranidae) from the Kruger National Park, with notes on related species |journal=Koedoe |date=1975 |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=31–50 |doi=10.4102/koedoe.v18i1.913|url=https://koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedoe/article/download/913/1047 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2245595}}

krugerensis
Category:Frogs of Africa
Category:Amphibians of Angola
Category:Amphibians of Botswana
Category:Amphibians of Eswatini
Category:Amphibians of Mozambique
Category:Amphibians of Namibia
Category:Amphibians of South Africa
Category:Amphibians of Zimbabwe
Category:Amphibians described in 1975
Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot

{{Ranoidea-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Knocking sand frog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocking_sand_frog) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocking_sand_frog?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.