Eleutherodactylidae
This family is an assemblage of four genera of direct-developing frogs found throughout the West Indies, in peninsular Florida (where it may be either native or introduced) and from southern Texas (USA) south to northwestern Ecuador, with some genera in northeastern South America and in the Amazon Basin. Frogs of the family Eleutherodactylidae range in size from 10.5 mm SVL in female Eleutherodactylus iberia to 88 mm in female Eleutherodactylus inoptatus (Hedges et al. 2008). Eleutherodactylus iberia is one of the smallest frogs in the world. Miniaturization has occurred across five families of frogs (Brachycephalidae, Eleutherodactylidae, Leptodactylidae, Microhylidae, and Sooglossidae), and with it come constraints in morphological development, including digital reduction and loss of vomerine teeth. Miniaturized frog species also tend to have high-frequency calls (>5 kHz) and to have clutches with very small numbers of eggs (sometimes only one egg). Another unusual species is Eleutherodactylus jasperi, an ovoviviparous frog which retains developing embryos within eggs in the oviduct, giving birth to live froglets. This species is endemic to southern Puerto Rico, but is thought to be extinct as it has not been seen since 1981.
An adult Eleutherodactylus iberia, one of the smallest known frogs at just 10.5 mm
Photo by Ansel Fong
(Click for details)Species in the family Eleutherodactylidae share the following characters: (1) cartilaginous sternum; (2) vertebral shield not present; (3) transverse processes of posterior presacral vertebrae not expanded broadly; (4) cervical cotyles widely spaced; (5) eight presacral vertebrae, with Presacrals I and II not fused; (6) cranial elements not co-ossified with overlying skin; (7) omosternum present; (8) sacral diapophyses rounded to barely dilated; (9) maxillary arch usually dentate, with blunt, pedicellate teeth; (10) alary processes of premaxillae broadened at base, usually directed dorsally or posterodorsally; (11) palatal shelf of premaxilla usually broad, may be indented or not; (12) pars facialis of maxilla usually deep, not exostosed; (13) palatal shelf of maxilla moderately broad, may bear pterygoid process or not; (14) maxillary arch complete; maxillae tapering posteriorly; quadratojugal slender; (15) nasals usually large with broad median contact; (16) nasals usually not in contact with maxillae or pterygoids; (17) nasals not in contact with frontoparietals; (18) frontoparietal fontanelle usually absent; (19) frontoparietals usually not exostosed; cranial crests present in some Eleutherodactylus; (20) frontoparietals fused with prootics or not; (21) temporal arcade absent; (22) epiotic eminences prominent to indistinct; (23) carotid artery passes dorsal to cranial elements; (24) zygomatic ramus of squamosal broad to slender, usually not in contact with maxilla; (25) otic ramus of squamosal short to elongate, may be expanded into otic plate or not; (26) squamosal-maxilla angle 44–67°; (27) columella present, except in fenestra ovalis directed laterally; (28) vomers varying in size; dentigerous processes absent in Eleutherodactylus (subgenus Syrrhophus), and some diminutive species of Eleutherodactylus (subgenus Euhyas); (29) neopalatines usually broad; slender in Eleutherodactylus (subgenus Syrrhophus); (30) sphenethmoid usually entire, divided in some Eleutherodactylus (subgenus Syrrhophus); (31) anterior ramus of parasphenoid narrow to broad, no keel; (32) parasphenoid alae either present at right angle to axis of skull or deflected posteriorly, usually not overlapped by pterygoids; (33) pterygoid lacks ventral flange; anterior ramus does not reach neopalatine; (34) occipital condyles small to large, widely separated medially, may be stalked or not; (35) odontoids lacking; (36) terminal phalanges T-shaped; (37) usually three phalanges in Finger IV (two in some Adelophryne); (38) Toe I fully developed and free; (39) alary process of hyoid plate may be on slender stalk or not; (40) mandibular ramus of trigeminal nerve passes lateral to the m. adductor mandibulae (condition unknown in Adelophryne); (41) prominent external body glands usually absent, though lumbar glands are present in some Eleutherodactylus; (42) males have single or paired subgular vocal sac, single pectoral vocal sac, or no vocal sac; (43) males hav vocal slits (or not) and lack nuptial pads; (44) hands unwebbed; feet usually unwebbed or webbed basally, but foot webbing is extensive in some Eleutherodactylus; (45) terminal digits usually expanded with pads set off by distinct circumferential grooves; digits apically pointed in Adelophryne and some Diasporus; grooves present only laterally in Phyzelaphryne; (46) inner and outer metatarsal tubercles present, inner tubercle not spade-like; (47) tympanic membrane and annulus well differentiated or not; (48) amplexus axillary; (49) eggs are deposited terrestrially or arboreally and undergo direct development; ovoviviparity exists in at least one species, Eleutherodactylus (Eleutherodactylus) jasperi.
Literature cited:
Hedges, S. B., Duellman, W. E., and Heinicke, M. P. (2008). New World direct-developing frogs (Anura: Terrarana): Molecular phylogeny, classification, biogeography, and conservation. Zootaxa 1737: 1-182.
Genus Adelophryne (6 species)
Adelophryne adiastola species account photos no range maps no sounds Adelophryne baturitensis no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Adelophryne gutturosa no species account photos no range maps no sounds Adelophryne maranguapensis no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Adelophryne pachydactyla no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Adelophryne patamona no species account no photos no range maps no sounds
Genus Diasporus (9 species)
Diasporus anthrax no species account photos no range maps no sounds Diasporus diastema no species account photos no range maps no sounds Diasporus gularis no species account photos no range maps no sounds Diasporus hylaeformis no species account photos no range maps no sounds Diasporus quidditus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Diasporus tigrillo no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Diasporus tinker no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Diasporus ventrimaculatus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Diasporus vocator no species account photos no range maps no sounds
Genus Eleutherodactylus (186 species)
Eleutherodactylus abbotti species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus acmonis species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus adelus species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus albipes species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus alcoae no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus alticola no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus amadeus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus amplinympha no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus andicola no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus andrewsi no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus angustidigitorum no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus antillensis species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus aporostegus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus apostates no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus armstrongi no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus atkinsi species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus audanti no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus auriculatoides no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus auriculatus species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus bakeri no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus barlagnei no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus bartonsmithi species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus blairhedgesi no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus bothroboans no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus bresslerae species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus brevirostris no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus brittoni species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus caribe no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus casparii no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus cavernicola no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus chlorophenax no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus cochranae species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus cooki species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus coqui species account photos range maps sounds Eleutherodactylus corona no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus counouspeus no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus cubanus species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus cundalli no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus cuneatus no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides species account photos range maps sounds Eleutherodactylus darlingtoni no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus dennisi no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus dilatus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus dimidiatus species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus diplasius no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus dixoni no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus dolomedes no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus eileenae no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus emiliae no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus eneidae no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus erythroproctus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus etheridgei species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus eunaster no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus flavescens no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus fowleri no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus furcyensis no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus fuscus no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus glamyrus species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus glandulifer no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus glanduliferoides no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus glaphycompus no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus glaucoreius no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus goini no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus gossei no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus grabhami no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus grahami no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus grandis no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus greyi no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus griphus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus gryllus species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus guanahacabibes no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus guantanamera species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus gundlachi species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus guttilatus species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus haitianus no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus hedricki species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus heminota no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus hypostenor no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus iberia species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus inoptatus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus intermedius species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus interorbitalis no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus ionthus species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus jamaicensis no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus jasperi species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus jaumei no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus johnstonei species account photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus jugans no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus junori no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus karlschmidti no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus klinikowskii no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus lamprotes no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus leberi species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus lentus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus leoncei no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus leprus no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus limbatus species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus limbensis no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus locustus no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus longipes no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus lucioi no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus luteolus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus maestrensis no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus mariposa species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus marnockii species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus martinicensis species account photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus maurus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus melacara species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus melatrigonum no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus michaelschmidi no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus minutus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus modestus no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus monensis no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus montanus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus nitidus no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus nivicolimae no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus nortoni no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus notidodes no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus nubicola no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus olibrus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus orcutti no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus orientalis species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus oxyrhyncus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus pallidus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus pantoni no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus parabates no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus paralius no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus parapelates no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus patriciae no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus paulsoni no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus pentasyringos no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus pezopetrus species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus pictissimus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus pinarensis no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus pinchoni species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus pipilans no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus pituinus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus planirostris species account photos range maps sounds Eleutherodactylus poolei no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus portoricensis no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus principalis species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus probolaeus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus rhodesi no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus richmondi no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus ricordii species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus riparius no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus rivularis no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus rogersi no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus ronaldi species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus rubrimaculatus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus rucillensis no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus rufescens no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus rufifemoralis no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus ruthae no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus saxatilis no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus schmidti no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus schwartzi no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus sciagraphus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus semipalmatus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus simulans species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus sisyphodemus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus sommeri no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus staurometopon no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus symingtoni species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus syristes no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus teretistes no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus tetajulia species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus thomasi no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus thorectes no species account no photos range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus toa no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus tonyi no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus turquinensis species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus tychathrous no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus unicolor species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus varians no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus varleyi species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus ventrilineatus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus verrucipes no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus verruculatus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus warreni no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus weinlandi no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus wetmorei no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus wightmanae no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus zeus no species account photos no range maps no sounds Eleutherodactylus zugi no species account no photos no range maps no sounds
Genus Phyzelaphryne (1 species)
Phyzelaphryne miriamae no species account photos no range maps no sounds
Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2010. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: http://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed: 2010).
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