Suborder: Mesobatrachia
Genera: 1 – Rhinophyrnus
Number of Species: 1 – Mexican Burrowing Toad (Rhinophyrnus dorsalis)
The family Rhinophrynidae contains only one living species – the Mexican Burrowing Toad (Rhinophrynus dorsalis). It is found in Central America up to Texas. They burrow down in the ground and eat termites.
The answer to this week’s frog or toad is FROG! It is a Shovel-nosed Frog (Hemisus marmoratus)
Common Name: Waxy Monkey Tree Frog, Painted Belly Tree Frog
Scientific Name: Phyllomedusa sauvagii
Family: Hylidae – Tree Frog family
Location: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay
Size: 2-3 inches (5.1 – 7.6 cm)
Waxy Monkey Tree Frogs are a pretty cool looking frog. They live their lives in the trees and even lay their eggs there. The monkey in their name comes from the fact they seem to walk instead of hop around much like a monkey. The skin of the Waxy Monkey Tree Frog appears waxy to prevent water loss. Their skins contain certain lipids to perform the task.
Here is a nice video.
Suborder: Mesobatrachia
Genera: 1 – Pelodytes
Species: 5
Pelodytidae, the Parsley Frog family is a small family of frogs made up of only one genus. It is named the Parsley frogs because of how the coloration of the frog’s skin looks like parsley. They are found in Europe and Caucasus. There was originally only 3 species of frogs but in 2017, researchers suggested 2 more species should be split off. They added that further investigation should be done. Now, onto the individual species.
First, we have the Caucasian Parsley Frog (Pelodytes caucasicus). It is found in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, and Turkey. It is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
The Iberian Parsley Frog (Pelodytes ibericus) is obviously found in Spain and Portugal but in the southern parts. It was only described in 2000.
Next, the Common parsley Frog (Pelodytes punctatus) is found in Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain.
Pelodytes atlanticus is found along the Portuguese Atlantic Coast. I’m naming it the Atlantic Parsley Frog.
Last, we have Pelodytes hespericus that occurs in eastern and central Spain. It was only described in 2017.
The answer is toad! Its a Northern Spadefoot Toad (Notaden melanoscaphus)
Common Name: Ghost Glass Frog, Limon Giant Glass Frog
Scientific Name: Sachatamia ilex
Family: Centrolenidae – Glass Frog family
Location: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama
Size: 1.45 inches or 37 mm
The Ghost Glass frog is a member of the Glass Frog family, so they have semi transparent skin that they use to blend into leaves on trees. They are an arboreal (tree living) frog. The frogs even mate up in the trees and lay their eggs on leaves overhanging streams. Once the eggs hatch, the tadpoles fall into the stream below to complete their metamorphism there.
Even though they only reach an inch and a half length, they are the largest Glass Frog.
Suborder: Archaeobatrachia
Genera: 3 – Latonia, Alytes, and Discoglossus
Species: 11
Alytidae is a family of frogs that contain Midwife toads and Painted frogs. The genera Latonia and Discoglossus are referred to as the Painted Frogs while the genus Alytes is referred to as the Midwife toad. The family is mostly found in Europe but there are a few species in Northern African and historically in the middle east.
The genus Alytes or the Midwife Toads are known for the fact that the males carry a string of fertilized eggs on their back or legs.
The genus Discoglossus used to be it’s own family until merging in with the Midwife Toads.
The Hula painted frog (Latonia nigriventer) is the only living species of the genus Latonia. It was thought to be extinct until it was discovered in Israel in 2011. It’s only found in Lake Hula, which is how it gets its name, and is listed as critically endangered.
The answer is toad! Its a Two-Spade Narrowed Mouth Toad (Hypopachus ustum)
