Photo by James Bettaso, U.S. Fish & Wildlife service Number of Genera: 1 - RhyacotritonNumber of Species: 4 - Cascade Torrent Salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae), Columbia Torrent Salamander (Rhyacotriton kezeri), Olympic Torrent Salamander (Rhyacotriton olympicus), and Southern Torrent Salamander (Rhyacotriton variegatus) There are only four species of salamanders in this small family. The Torrent Salamanders used… Continue reading Rhyacotritonidae – Torrent Salamanders
Tag: Family Friday
Hynobiidae – Asiatic Salamanders
Number of Genera: 9 - Batrachuperus, Hynobius, Liua, Pachyhynobius, Paradactylodon, Pseudohynobius, Ranodon, Salamandrella, and OnychodactylusNumber of Species: 67 Hynobiidae is a family of salamanders referred to as the Asiatic Salamanders because they are found dun dun dun... in Asia. They are closely related to the Giant Salamander family - Cryptobranchidae. The family is broken into… Continue reading Hynobiidae – Asiatic Salamanders
Craugastoridae – Fleshbelly Frogs
Suborder: NeobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 4*Number of Species: 100~ or 800~* Craigastoridae is a family of direct developing frogs from the southern United States all the way down to South America. Some sources combine the family Craugastoridae and Strabomantidae into one single family so exact number of genera and species depends on sources and who you… Continue reading Craugastoridae – Fleshbelly Frogs
Salamandridae
Number of Subfamilies: 3 - Pleurodelinae, Salamandrinae, SalamandrininaeNumber of Genera: 21Pleurodelinae - Calotriton, Cynops, Echinotriton, Euproctus, Ichthyosaura, Laotriton, Lissotriton, Neurergus, Notophthalmus, Ommatotriton, Pachytriton, Paramesotriton, Pleurodeles, Taricha, Triturus, and TylototritonSalamandrinae - Chioglossa, Lyciasalamandra, Mertensiella, and SalamandraSalamandrininae - SalamandrinaNumber of Species: 119 The family Salamandridae contains salamanders and newts. Often members of the family are called "True… Continue reading Salamandridae
Cycloramphidae
Suborder: NeobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 2 or 3 - Cycloramphus, Thoropa , and ZachaenusNumber of Species: 34 or 36 The family Cycloramphidae is found in only Southeastern Brazil. The placement of the genus Zachaenus is questioned by some sources. Some have it in the family, some don't. The genus Cycloramphus is sometimes known as the Button… Continue reading Cycloramphidae
Alsodidae
Alsodidae Subfamily: NeobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 3 - Alsodes (19), Eupsophus (6), and Limnomedusa (1)Number of Species: 26 Alsodidae is a family of frogs from South America. It used to be part of the family Leptodactylidae and Cycloramphidae before eventually winding up its own family. Olive Spiny-chest Frog by José Grau de Puerto Montt The genus Alsodes… Continue reading Alsodidae
Plethodontidae – Lungless Salamanders
Plethodontidae - Lungless Salamanders Number of Subfamilies: 2 - Hemidactyliinae and PlethodontinaeNumber of Genera: 28Number of Species: 471 Plethodontidae is the largest family of salamanders. It is nicknamed the lungless salamanders because none of the species have lungs! The family is thought to diverged in the Appalachian Mountain range in the United States. Most of… Continue reading Plethodontidae – Lungless Salamanders
Ichthyophiidae – Asiatic Tailed Caecilians
Number of Genera: 2 - Ichthyophis (50) and Uraeotyphlus (7)Number of Species: 57 Ichthyophiliidae is a primitive family of caecilians. They still have a true tail and scales. Members of the family lay their eggs in the ground, the larva hatch from the eggs and move into water bodies to complete their metamorphosis. The genus… Continue reading Ichthyophiidae – Asiatic Tailed Caecilians
Batrachylidae
Suborder: NeobatrachiaNumber of Genera: 4 - Atelognathus, Batrachyla, Chaltenobatrachus, and HylorinaNumber of Species: 15 Batrachylidae is a family of frogs from Chile and Argentina. It used to be a subfamily of the family Ceratophryidae, the Horned Frogs, but were removed because of genetics sequencing and it's actually closer related to Rhinodermatidae. Patagonia Frog by Boris Blotto The… Continue reading Batrachylidae
Proteidae
Gulf Coast Waterdog by Brad M. Glorioso Number of Genera: 2 - Necturus (5) and Proteus (1)Number of Species: 6 Proteidae is a family of aquatic salamanders found in North America and the Balkans. The members of the family retain their gills into adulthood and have four limbs unlike Sirens, Amphiuma, and Caecilians. Often these… Continue reading Proteidae