Species accounts

Click on a species' name for more information about it...

The taxonomic descriptions are taken almost entirely from the available guides: Lee (1996), Meyer & Foster (1996), Campbell (1998), and Lee (2000). Additional information especially concerning the Leptodactylidae was taken from the recent monograph by Campbell & Savage (2000), and personal communication with Julian Lee, Jack Meyer, and Peter Stafford.

Glossary of terms used

(from Campbell 1998 & Lee 1996)

Adpress : To press closely to the body
Aguada : A shallow surface depression that may be a permanent pond of water or may become mostly dry during the dry season.
Amplexus : The sexual embrace of anurans
Auricular : Pertaining to the ear
Axillary : Pertaining to the armpit. During axillary amplexus male anurans grasp females just behind the forelimbs
Canthal : Referring to the area between the supraocular and the rostral, where the dorsum of the snout turns downward on the side
Casque : A process or structure suggestive of a helmet. Frogs of the genus Triprion are frequently called casque-headed tree frogs.
Co-ossified : adj The condition in which the integument is fused to the underlying bones. The skin of the dorsal surface of Triprion petasatus, for example is co-ossified with certain cranial bones
Cranial crest : Any of the raised, bony ridges on the top or the side of the head in many toads (Bufonidae)
Crepuscular : Active under conditions of dim illumination, such as dawn and dusk
Denticulate : With reference to amphibian skin, having a rough sandpapery feel and covered in numerous small, sharp, keratinous projections. Examples of anurans having keratinous skin are certain bufonids and ranids.
Dermal : Relating to the skin, or superficial bones that lie in or just beneath the skin.
Disc : The flat, plate-like expansion on the tips of digits. Characteristic of many anurans - most hylids.
Distal : Part of the body that is farther removed from the centre of the body than some other part.
Dorsolateral : A position that is intermediate between dorsal and lateral. For example the eyes of the tadpoles of many species are dorsolateral in position.
Dorsolateral ridge/fold : The glandular ridge extending from behind the eye down the dorso-lateral surface of the body of some frogs - mainly ranids.
Dorsum : The upper surface of the animal or part of the animal
Face mask : Present when the side of the head below the canthus through the eye to the tympanum is conspicuously darkened and sharply delimited from more dorsal coloration. A face mask is present in many leptodactylid and some ranid frogs.
Fossorial : Adapted to digging or living below the ground - eg Rhinophrynus dorsalis
Frontoparietal : A dermal roofing bone in the skull of anurans formed by fusion of the frontal and parietal bones
Glandular ridge : A narrow, elevated ridge of glandular skin, usually on the dorsal surface of the body as seen in some species of frog
Granular : Possessing granules, for example the skin of E.rugulosus species
Gular : Of or pertaining to the ventral surface of the throat or neck
Inner metatarsal tubercle : A large tubercle on the sole of the hind foot at the base of the first digit. There can be inner and outer metatarsal tubercles
Inner tarsal tubercle : A tubercle on the inner, or medial side of the tarsus in certain species of frogs
Inner tarsal fold : A distinct ridge or fold that extending along the inner tarsus in many frogs.
Interorbital : Of or pertaining to the area of the dorsal surface of the head between the eyes
Labial : Of, or pertaining to the lips
Labial shelf : A bony, shelf like projection along the upper lip of some anurans
Lateral : Pertaining to a position away from the midline of the body.
Lichenose : Resembling lichens, such as certain colour patterns with irregular and diffuse blotches or mottling
Maxillary : One of the principle bones of the upper jaw in amphibians and reptiles - usually bears teeth
Medial (Median) : Pertaining to a position toward the midline of the body
Mesic : Characterised by a moderate to great amount of moisture.
Metachrosis : The ability to change colour.
Metatarsus : The sole of the foot; specifically the portion of the foot supported by the metatarsal bones and extending from the heel to the base of the digits
Middorsal : The portion of the dorsal surface of the body that lies along the midline
Monontypic : Consisting of a single species or taxon.
Montane : Relating to a mountain or mountainous region.
Mottled : Marked with many spots or blotches that often run together.
Nape : The dorsal part of the neck.
Nuptial excrescences : A thick, roughened pad on the skin of sexually active male anurans, usually on the thumb, synonymous with nuptial pad
Occipital : Of or pertaining to the posterior portion of the skull
Ocular : Of or pertaining to the eye
Oviparous : Producing eggs that hatch outside of the maternal body.
Oviposition : The act of laying eggs
Palmar : The ventral surface of the forefoot; the palm of the hand.
Palpebral membrane : The transparent eyelid of anurans. It may be clear, as in most species of Hyla or reticulate as in Agalychnis callidryas
Parotoid gland : A large glandular area lying behind the eye on the side of the neck. This gland is present in Bufo and the Tungara frog (Physalaemus pustulosus).
Parietal : The region or scales located on the back of the head posterior to the frontal and supraocular region.
Parthenogenesis : A kind of reproduction that involves the deveopment of offspring (all female) without fertilisation bya male parent.
Phragmosis : The act of plugging the entrance to a hole or burrow by using a body part. This body part is usually adapted for this use and is bony or has spines. Triprion petasatus (casque-headed treefrog) is thought to block the entrance to tree holes by using the bony casque on the top of its head.
Pollex : The first finger or innermost digit on the hand; the thumb is a pollex.
Postocular : The region or scales lying behind the eye.
Postorbital : Behind the eye.
Prefrontal : The region or scales on top of the snout behind the internasals and in front of the
Preocular : The region bordering the anterior margin of the eye.
Premaxillary bone : One of a pair of dermal bones at the anterior end of the skull in amphibians and reptiles
Prenasal bone : An unpaired dermal bone lying anterior to the premaxillary bones in Triprion petastus
Prepollex : A small skeletal element on the inner side of digit 1 (the pollex) of the hand of some anurans
Proximal : Pertaining to a part of the body that is closer to the centre of the body than is some other part
Pustulate : Bearing pustules - eg the skin of Physalaemus pustulosus
Reticulate : With respect to the colour pattern, having the appearance of a net or mesh
Rostral : Of or pertaining to the snout, anterior
Rostrum : The snout
Rugose : Covered with wrinkles or tubercles
Seat patch : In anurans a triangular area of skin surrounding the vent, generally darker coloured than the surrounding skin
Shank : A lower section of the hind leg of a frog or lizard
Sinistral : Relating to the left side
Splenial : One of the dermal bones of the lower jaw in some vertebrates
Squamosal : A cranial bone located on posterior part of the side of the head
Striated : Marked with many minute parallel grooves or channels
Subarticular : Located below the joint between two of the bony phalanges
Subgular : Of or pertaining to the area below the gular region, when inflated the vocal sacs of males are often subgular in position
Supernumerary tubercle : In anurans a tubercle on the hand or foot that does not lie immediately below a point of articulation between the phalanges
Supralabial : Of or pertaining to the region immediately above the upper margin of the jaw
Supraocular : The region of the top of the head
Suprascapular : Part of the dorsum lying above the scapula; the shoulder region
SVL : Abbreviation for Snout Vent Length - measurement from the anterior surface of the snout to the posterior edge of the vent
Tarsal fold : A fold of skin running along the tarsus
Tarsus : The segment of the hind limb lying just distal to the tibia and fibula, and the metatarsus
Temporal : The region lying behind the postoculars, above the supralabials or mouth and below the parietal region
Truncate : Blunt or square at the end
Tubercle : A small discrete bump or knob on the skin. Most anurans have a distinctive, large inner metatarsal tubercle on the inner side of the hind foot; in the case of Rhinophrynus dorsalis there are two of these tubercles
Tuberculate : Bearing tubercles
Tympanum : The eardrum
Vent : The posterior cloacal aperture
Venter : The undersurface of an animal
Ventral : Pertaining to the undersurface of an animal
Ventral disc : A portion of the abdomen that is demarked by a circular fold of skin, the presence or absence of which is of taxonomic importance - Leptodactylus labialis for example has a ventral disc
Ventrolateral : A position intermediate between ventral and lateral.
Vestigial : A small and degenerate bodily part that remains from one more fully developed in an eariler state of the individual or evolutionary time
Vocal sac : A ventral outpocketing of the aural cavity in male anurans, that serves to amplify vibrations of the vocal cords
Vocal slit : In male anurans, one of a pair of slit like valves in the floor of the mouth though which air passes between the buccal cavity and the vocal sac(s)
Wart : A rounded, elevated bump on the skin of certain anurans, espeacially those of the family Bufonidae. Warts are larger than pustules, although some authors do not distinguish between the two.

References