AmphibiaWeb - Eleutherodactylidae
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  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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