Suborder: NeobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 2 - Brachycephalus and IschnocnemaNumber of Species: 64 species Saddle-back toads are a family of toads and frogs from the cloud forests in Brazil and Argentina. They are direct developing frogs so they spend no time as tadpoles outside their eggs. The genus Brachycephalus is referred to as the Saddle-back toads. They… Continue reading Brachycephalidae – Saddle-back Toads
Category: Family Friday
Leiopelmatidae
Suborder: ArchaeobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 1 - LeiopelmaNumber of Species: 4 - Archey's Frog (Leiopelma archeyi), Hamilton's Frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni), Hochstetter's Frog, (Leiopelma hochstetteri), and Maud Island frog (Leiopelma pakeka) Leiopelmatidae is one of the most primitive frog families. They have an extra vertebrae making them have 9 in total, only frogs of the family Ascaphidae (Tailed Frogs)… Continue reading Leiopelmatidae
Mantellidae
Suborder: NeobatrachiaNumber of Subfamilies: 3 - Boophinae (1 genera), Laliostominae (2 genera), Mantellinae (9 genera)Number of Genera: 12Boophinae: BoophisLaliostominae: Aglyptodactylus and LaliostomaMantellinae: Blommersia, Boehmantis, Gephyromantis, Guibemantis, Mantella, Mantidactylus, Spinomantis, Tsingymantis, and Wakea.Number of Species: 213 Mantellidae is a family of frogs only found on Madagascar and the nearby small islands. Most Mantellids are terrestrial but there are some that are aquatic, arboreal,… Continue reading Mantellidae
Pipidae -Tongueless Frog Family
Suborder: MesobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 4 - Pipa, Xenopus, Hymenochirus, PseudhymenochirusNumber of Species: 41 Pipidae is known as the Tongueless frog family since they have no tongues. Other notable traits of the family are fully webbed back legs, flatted body, and having a lateral line system. These frogs are mostly fully aquatic, only come up to the… Continue reading Pipidae -Tongueless Frog Family
Ascaphidae – Tailed Frog Family
Suborder: ArchaeobatrachiaFamily: AscaphidaeGenera: 1 - AscaphusSpecies: 2 - Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog (Ascaphus montanus) and Coastal Tailed Frog (Ascaphus truei) Tailed frogs are unique in the fact that they have a tail that they use for reproductive purposes, making them the only two frogs in North America to reproduce internally. This is useful for the… Continue reading Ascaphidae – Tailed Frog Family
Fire Bellied Toad Family – Bombinatoridae
Suborder: ArchaeobatrachiaGenera: 2 - Bombina and Barbourula Species: 10 The family Bombinatoridae is found throughout Europe and Asia with the genus Barbourula mainly being found in Asia. The members of the family have triangle or eliptical pupils and 8 pre-sacral vertebrae. Bombinatoridae is a primitive family of frogs and toads. The genus Bombina is refered to… Continue reading Fire Bellied Toad Family – Bombinatoridae
True Frog Family – Ranidae
Suborder: NeobatrachiaLocation: Every continentNumber of Species: over 300 Ranidae is the true frog family that contains many of the frogs people know, such as the Green frog, American Bullfrog, and Leopard Frogs. The family's taxonomy is still being sorted out and changed, so exact species number and genera number changes based on sources. Many families… Continue reading True Frog Family – Ranidae
Microhylidae
Suborder: NeobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 59Number of Species: 634 This family of frog is a variable group with most being terrestrial or fossorial frogs while some are arboreal. They are found in most parts of the world bar Europe. They generally have short hind legs with a narrow snout. There are 11 different subfamilies in the… Continue reading Microhylidae
True Toad Family – Bufonidae
Suborder: NeobatrachiaNumber of Species: over 600 Bufonidae is the true toad family. Their most noticeable and recognizable feature is the pair of parotoid glands on their back of their heads. This gland can produce a toxin when the toads are stressed. The males also have Bidder's Organ, which allows them to turn into females. The… Continue reading True Toad Family – Bufonidae
Tree Frog Family – Hylidae
Suborder: NeobatrachiaSubfamilies: Hylinae, Phyllomedusinae, and PelodryadinaeNumber of Genera: 49Number of Species: 978 Hylidae contains the tree frogs and their allies. Most of the frogs are suited for an arboreal lifestyle and have adhesive toe discs for climbing. It's one of the largest frog families. The family is broken into three subfamilies. The members of the… Continue reading Tree Frog Family – Hylidae