Phrynobatrachus

"Puddle frog" redirects here. For other uses, see Puddle frog (disambiguation).
Phrynobatrachus
Phrynobatrachus mababiensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Superfamily: Ranoidea
Family: Phrynobatrachidae
Laurent, 1941
Genus: Phrynobatrachus
Günther, 1862
Species

85, see text

Phrynobatrachus is a genus of Sub-Saharan frogs that form the monogeneric family Phrynobatrachidae. Their common name is puddle frogs, dwarf puddle frogs, African puddle frogs, or African river frogs.[1][2][3][4] The common name, puddle frog, refers to the fact that many species breed in temporary waterbodies such as puddles.[5]

Phrynobatrachus are among the most common amphibians in Africa. They are typically small (mostly less than 30 mm (1.2 in)[5]), fast-moving frogs. They occupy a variety of habitats from dry savannas to rainforests. Most species deposit many small eggs as a surface clutch in standing or slowly moving water and have exotrophic tadpoles.[4]

Phrynobatrachus parvulus

Taxonomy

Phrynobatrachidae has earlier been considered as a subfamily of Ranidae, but its recognition as a family is now well-established.[1][2][3][4] It is probably most closely related to Petropedetidae and Pyxicephalidae[1] or Ptychadenidae.[4]

This large genus may be further divided into three major clades. These clades could be treated as different genera, but this arrangement is not yet in use.[1]

Species

There are currently 85 species in this genus:[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Phrynobatrachidae Laurent, 1941". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Phrynobatrachidae". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 Blackburn, D. C.; Wake, D. B. (2011). "Class Amphibia Gray, 1825. In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness" (PDF). Zootaxa 3148: 39–55.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Vitt, Laurie J.; Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. p. 507.
  5. 1 2 Zimkus, B. "Phrynobatrachus Günther, 1862". African Amphibians Lifedesk. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  6. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2014). "Phrynobatrachus Günther, 1862". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
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