AmphibiaWeb - Leptodactylidae
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Leptodactylidae

240 species in 13 genera

Commonly Called Tropical Grass Frogs, Southern Frogs, White-lipped Frogs


Leptodactylus plaumanni
Photo by Mirco Sole
(Click for family gallery)

This large and diverse New World family has undergone substantial taxonomic revision (Frost et al. 2006; Grant et al. 2006; Hedges et al. 2008). They are medium to large frogs, including Leptodactylus pentadactylus which can reach up to 185 mm snout-vent length and are sometimes consumed by humans. Commonly strong jumpers, these frogs have robust hindlimbs. They typically have tadpoles which may be aquatic or nonfeeding endotrophic larvae. Leptodactylus are known to create foam-nests made from cloacal secretions; their placement (surface of water, in treeholes, in foliage above streams, etc) are species-specific and vary widely.

Leptodactylids occur from southern Texas and Florida through Mexico and in South America. Some members also occur in the West Indies. They are sister taxon to Leiuperidae.

Written by AmphibiaWeb

Notable Family Characteristics

  • Terrestrial
  • Tadpoles both aquatic and free-living and endotrophic
  • Leptodactylus build foam-nests in a variety of micro-habitats that are species-specific
  • Territorial; some species also guard larvae from potential predators (e.g., Leptodactylus latrans)
  • Morphological features include: 1) paired palatines and frontoparietals in skull; 2) eight presacral vertebrae; 3) intercalary cartilages between the terminal and penultimate phalanges absent; 4) variable tips of terminal phalanges; 5) distinct tympanum
  • Distribution limited to southern North America (southern Texas, Florida, and Sonoran Mexico) through the West Indies, Central America, and throughout South America
Leptodactylidae Richness map

Cartography Credit: Zoe Yoo, UC Berkeley
Range maps sources: AmphibiaWeb, UC Berkeley, and IUCN RedList

Relevant Reference

Frost, D. R., Grant, T., Faivovich, J., Bain, R. H., Haas, A., Haddad, C. F. B., de Sá, R. O., Channing, A., Wilkinson, M., Donnellan, S. C., Raxworthy, C. J., Campbell, J. A., Blotto, B. L., Moler, P., Drewes, R. C., Nussbaum, R. A., Lynch, J. D., Green, D. M., and Wheeler, W. C. (2006). The amphibian tree of life. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 297, 1-370.

Grant, T., Frost, D. R., Caldwell, J. P., Gagliardo, R., Haddad, C. F. B., Kok, P. J. R., Means, D. B., Noonan, B. P., Schargel, W. E., and Wheeler, W. C. (2006). Phylogenetic systematics of dart-poison frogs and their relatives (Amphibia: Athesphatanura: Dendrobatidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 299, 1-262.

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.

Pough, F. H., R. M. Andrews, M. L. Crump, A. H. Savitzky, K. D. Wells, and M. C. Brandley. 2015. Herpetology. Fourth Edition. Massachusetts: Sinauer.

Vitt, L. J., and J. P. Caldwell. 2013. Herpetology. An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Fourth Edition. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Subfamily Leiuperinae (105 species)

Genus Edalorhina (2 species)    [subfamily Leiuperinae]
Edalorhina nasuta account no photos no sound/video
Edalorhina perezi account photos no sound/video

Genus Engystomops (9 species)    [subfamily Leiuperinae]
Engystomops coloradorum no account photos no sound/video
Engystomops freibergi no account photos no sound/video
Engystomops guayaco no account no photos no sound/video
Engystomops montubio no account photos no sound/video
Engystomops petersi no account photos no sound/video
Engystomops pustulatus account photos sound/video
Engystomops pustulosus account photos sound/video
Engystomops puyango no account photos no sound/video
Engystomops randi no account photos no sound/video

Genus Physalaemus (50 species)    [subfamily Leiuperinae]
Physalaemus aguirrei no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus albifrons no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus albonotatus no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus angrensis no account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus araxa no account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus atim account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus atlanticus no account photos sound/video
Physalaemus barrioi account photos sound/video
Physalaemus biligonigerus no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus bokermanni no account photos sound/video
Physalaemus caete no account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus camacan no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus carrizorum no account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus centralis account photos sound/video
Physalaemus cicada no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus claptoni no account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus crombiei no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus cuqui no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus cuvieri account photos sound/video
Physalaemus deimaticus no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus ephippifer account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus erikae no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus erythros no account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus evangelistai no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus feioi no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus fernandezae no account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus fischeri no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus gracilis no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus henselii no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus insperatus no account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus irroratus no account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus jordanensis account no photos sound/video
Physalaemus kroyeri no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus lateristriga no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus lisei no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus maculiventris no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus marmoratus account photos sound/video
Physalaemus maximus no account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus moreirae account photos sound/video
Physalaemus nanus no account photos sound/video
Physalaemus nattereri no account photos sound/video
Physalaemus obtectus no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus olfersii no account photos sound/video
Physalaemus orophilus no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus riograndensis no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus rupestris no account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus santafecinus account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus signifer no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus soaresi no account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus spiniger no account photos no sound/video

Genus Pleurodema (16 species)    [subfamily Leiuperinae]
Pleurodema alium no account no photos no sound/video
Pleurodema bibroni no account no photos no sound/video
Pleurodema borellii no account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema brachyops no account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema bufoninum no account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema cinereum no account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema cordobae no account no photos no sound/video
Pleurodema diplolister account photos sound/video
Pleurodema fuscomaculatum no account no photos sound/video
Pleurodema guayapae account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema kriegi no account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema marmoratum account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema nebulosum no account no photos no sound/video
Pleurodema somuncurense account no photos no sound/video
Pleurodema thaul account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema tucumanum no account photos no sound/video

Genus Pseudopaludicola (28 species)    [subfamily Leiuperinae]
Pseudopaludicola ameghini account photos sound/video
Pseudopaludicola atragula no account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola boliviana no account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola canga no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola ceratophyes no account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola coracoralinae no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola facureae no account photos sound/video
Pseudopaludicola falcipes no account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola florencei no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola giarettai no account photos sound/video
Pseudopaludicola hyleaustralis no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola ibisoroca no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola jaredi no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola javae no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola jazmynmcdonaldae no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola llanera no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola matuta no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola mineira no account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola motorzinho no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola murundu no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola mystacalis account photos sound/video
Pseudopaludicola parnaiba no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola pocoto no account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola pusilla no account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola restinga no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola saltica no account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola serrana no account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola ternetzi no account photos sound/video
Subfamily Leptodactylinae (118 species)

Genus Adenomera (31 species)    [subfamily Leptodactylinae]
Adenomera ajurauna no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera albarena no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera amicorum no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera andreae account photos sound/video
Adenomera araucaria no account photos no sound/video
Adenomera aurantiaca no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera bokermanni no account no photos sound/video
Adenomera chicomendesi no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera coca no account photos sound/video
Adenomera cotuba no account photos sound/video
Adenomera diptyx no account photos no sound/video
Adenomera engelsi no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera glauciae no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera gridipappi no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera guarani no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera guarayo no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera heyeri no account photos no sound/video
Adenomera hylaedactyla account photos sound/video
Adenomera inopinata no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera juikitam no account photos sound/video
Adenomera kayapo no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera kweti no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera lutzi no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera marmorata no account photos sound/video
Adenomera martinezi no account photos sound/video
Adenomera nana no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera phonotriccus no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera saci no account photos sound/video
Adenomera simonstuarti account photos no sound/video
Adenomera tapajonica no account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera thomei no account photos sound/video

Genus Hydrolaetare (3 species)    [subfamily Leptodactylinae]
Hydrolaetare caparu no account photos no sound/video
Hydrolaetare dantasi no account no photos no sound/video
Hydrolaetare schmidti no account photos no sound/video

Genus Leptodactylus (83 species)    [subfamily Leptodactylinae]
Leptodactylus albilabris no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus apepyta no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus avivoca no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus barrioi no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus bolivianus account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus bufonius no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus caatingae account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus camaquara no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus chaquensis no account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus colombiensis account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus cunicularius no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus cupreus no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus didymus no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus diedrus no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus discodactylus no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus elenae account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus fallax account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus flavopictus no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus fragilis account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus fremitus no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus furnarius no account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus fuscus account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus gracilis no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus griseigularis no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus guianensis no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus hallowelli no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus hylodes no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus insularum account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus jolyi no account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus kilombo no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus knudseni no account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus labrosus no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus labyrinthicus account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus laticeps no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus latinasus no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus latrans account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus lauramiriamae no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus leptodactyloides no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus lithonaetes account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus longirostris no account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus macrosternum no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus magistris no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus marambaiae no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus melanonotus no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus myersi no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus mystaceus account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus mystacinus account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus natalensis no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus nesiotus no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus notoaktites no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus ochraceus no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus oreomantis no account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus paraensis no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus pascoensis no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus pentadactylus account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus peritoaktites no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus petersii no account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus plaumanni no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus podicipinus account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus poecilochilus account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus pustulatus no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus rhodomerus no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus rhodomystax no account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus rhodonotus no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus rhodostima no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus riveroi no account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus rugosus account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus sabanensis no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus savagei account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus sertanejo no account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus silvanimbus account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus spixi no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus stenodema no account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus syphax no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus tapiti no account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus troglodytes no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus turimiquensis no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus validus no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus vastus account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus ventrimaculatus no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus viridis no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus wagneri no account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus watu no account no photos no sound/video

Genus Lithodytes (1 species)    [subfamily Leptodactylinae]
Lithodytes lineatus account photos sound/video
Subfamily Paratelmatobiinae (17 species)

Genus Crossodactylodes (7 species)    [subfamily Paratelmatobiinae]
Crossodactylodes bokermanni no account no photos no sound/video
Crossodactylodes itambe account no photos no sound/video
Crossodactylodes izecksohni no account no photos no sound/video
Crossodactylodes pintoi no account no photos no sound/video
Crossodactylodes septentrionalis no account photos no sound/video
Crossodactylodes serranegra no account no photos no sound/video
Crossodactylodes teixeirai no account no photos no sound/video

Genus Paratelmatobius (8 species)    [subfamily Paratelmatobiinae]
Paratelmatobius cardosoi account photos no sound/video
Paratelmatobius gaigeae account no photos sound/video
Paratelmatobius lutzii account photos no sound/video
Paratelmatobius mantiqueira account no photos no sound/video
Paratelmatobius pictiventris no account no photos no sound/video
Paratelmatobius poecilogaster account photos no sound/video
Paratelmatobius segallai no account no photos no sound/video
Paratelmatobius yepiranga no account no photos no sound/video

Genus Rupirana (1 species)    [subfamily Paratelmatobiinae]
Rupirana cardosoi no account photos no sound/video

Genus Scythrophrys (1 species)    [subfamily Paratelmatobiinae]
Scythrophrys sawayae no account photos no sound/video


Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: https://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed:

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