Archaeobatrachia is the ancient frog and toad suborder. The suborder contains only four families with under 30 total species in total. These frogs are considered ancient because they have characteristics common with extinct frogs and toads and that are not present in the other frog families. The thing that all frogs and toads have in… Continue reading Suborder Archaeobatrachia
Category: Family Friday
Pelobatidae – European Spadefoot Toad Family
Suborder: MesobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 1 - PelobatesNumber of Species: 4 - Western Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates cultripes), Common Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates fuscus), Eastern Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates syriacus), Moroccan Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates varaldi) The family Pelobatidae is the European Spadefoot toads but they aren't just found in Europe, they are also found in Asia and Northern Africa. The… Continue reading Pelobatidae – European Spadefoot Toad Family
Ceratobatrachidae
Suborder: NeobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 4 - Alcalus (5), Cornufer (42), Platymantis (45), Liurana(4)Number of Species: 96 Ceratobatrachidae is a family of frogs that used to be part of the Ranidae family but scientists moved them over to their own family. They are found in the Pacific. Alcalus is referred to as the Alcala’s dwarf mountain… Continue reading Ceratobatrachidae
Megophryidae – Leaf Litter Frogs
Suborder: MesobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 9 - Atympanophrys, Brachytarsophrys, Leptobrachella, Leptobrachium, Megophrys, Ophryophryne, Oreolalax, Scutiger, and XenophrysNumber of Species: 224 Megophyridae is a frog family from South East Asia. They are named the leaf litter frogs because many of them resemble dead leaves on the ground. They have a wide range of shapes and sizes. Brachytarsophrys genus… Continue reading Megophryidae – Leaf Litter Frogs
Hemiphractidae
Suborder: NeobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 6 - Cryptobatrachus, Cryptobatrachus, Fritziana, Gastrotheca, Hemiphractus, StefaniaNumber of Species: 108 Hemiphractidae is a family of frogs from South America and Central America. Most of the frogs of the family carry their eggs on their back so they are known as the Marsupial frogs. The genus Cryptobatrachus is known as the… Continue reading Hemiphractidae
Rhinophrynidae – Burrowing Toad Family
image from http://www.ryanphotographic.com/ Suborder: MesobatrachiaGenera: 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.
Pelodytidae – Parsley Frog Family
Suborder: MesobatrachiaGenera: 1 - PelodytesSpecies: 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… Continue reading Pelodytidae – Parsley Frog Family
Alytidae -Midwife Toad and Painted Frog Family
Suborder: ArchaeobatrachiaGenera: 3 - Latonia, Alytes, and DiscoglossusSpecies: 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… Continue reading Alytidae -Midwife Toad and Painted Frog Family
Calyptocephalellidae
Suborder: NeobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 2 - Calyptocephalella and TelmatobufoNumber Species: 5 All the frogs in the family are located in Chile. They are all at least listed as threatened with extinction. Telmatobufo are often called the false toads because they have parotid glands sticking out like a toad. They used to be in the family Lepotdacylidae.… Continue reading Calyptocephalellidae
Dicroglossidae – Forked Tongued Family
Suborder:NeobatrachiaSubfamilies: 2 - Dicroglossinae (184) and Occidozyginae (15)Genera: 15Dicroglossinae: Allopaa (2), Chrysopaa (1), Euphlyctis (8), Fejervarya (49), Hoplobatrachus (5), Limnonectes (68), Nannophrys (4), Nanorana (29), Ombrana (1), Quasipaa (10), Sphaerotheca (7)Occidozyginae: Ingerana (3) and Occidozyga (12)Number of Species: 200 Dicroglossidae or the Forked Tongued Family is a family of frogs from Asia and Africa. The… Continue reading Dicroglossidae – Forked Tongued Family