Rhacophoridae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| iMoss Frogs | ||||||||||
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 Owston's Green Tree Frog (Rhacophorus owstoni)
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Buergeriinae |
Moss Frogs are the members of the Rhacophoridae family; these frogs are found in tropical areas of Asia and Africa, including Japan and Madagascar (where they represent the largest frog group). Most of the species are arboreal, even laying their eggs in trees. Mating frogs, while in amplexus, hold onto a branch, and beat their legs to form a foam. The eggs are laid in the foam, and seminal fluid covers them. In some species, this is done in a large group. The foam is laid above a water source, so the tadpoles fall into the water once they hatch.
The species within this family vary in size, from 1.5 to 12 centimetres. As they are mostly arboreal, they have toe discs, and those of the genus Chirmantis have two opposable fingers on each hand. This family also contains the flying frogs, for example: Wallace's Flying Frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus). These frogs have extensive webbing between their hands and feet, allowing them to glide through the air.
[edit] References
- Cogger, H.G., R.G. Zweifel, and D. Kirschner (2004). Encyclopedia of Reptiles & Amphibians Second Edition. Fog City Press. ISBN 1-877019-69-0.
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