What does the name Leptodactylidae mean?
The name Leptodactylidae derives from Greek words meaning slender toes, a physical trait that hints at the family's diverse evolutionary history stretching back to the Cretaceous period.
Common questions about Leptodactylidae
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many species of Leptodactylidae are recognized as of December 2019?
As of December 2019, the Amphibian Species of the World database recognizes 206 species distributed across 13 genera.
Where are Leptodactylidae frogs found geographically?
These southern frogs represent a lineage that diverged from other hyloid amphibians millions of years ago, creating a group that now spans Mexico, the Caribbean, and the entirety of Central and South America.
What unique reproductive strategy do some Leptodactylidae genera use?
Several genera within the Leptodactylidae have evolved a remarkable reproductive strategy involving the construction of foam nests, which can be found in crevices, on the surface of water, or directly on the forest floor.
Who established the Leiuperinae subfamily of Leptodactylidae and when?
The Leiuperinae subfamily, established by Bonaparte in 1850, contains 90 species and includes genera such as Edalorhina, Engystomops, Physalaemus, Pleurodema, and Pseudopaludicola.
When was the Paratelmatobiinae subfamily of Leptodactylidae described?
The Paratelmatobiinae subfamily, described by Ohler and Dubois in 2012, is the smallest with only 13 species, including Crossodactylodes, Paratelmatobius, Rupirana, and Scythrophrys.