Ceuthomantidae

6 species in 2 genera

Commonly Called Emerald-Barred Frogs	Ceuthomantis smaragdinus Photo by D. Bruce Means (Click for family gallery)
Frogs of the family Ceuthomantidae are found in the elevated mountains and tepuis of the Guiana Shield in northeastern South America (Heinicke et al. 2009). They are small frogs (18-32 mm snout-vent lenght). Diagnostic characters include: T-shaped terminal phalanges, adductor musculature of the "S" type, lack of intercalary elements at the digit tips, paired lipid-containing protrusions of unknown function in the post-temporal and sacral regions, a very poorly ossified neurocranium, an unusually massive neopalatine bone, notched digital discs on fingers and toes, and the lack of vomerine teeth. The protrusions resemble dorsal glands but are not true glands. This family is basal within Terrarana (a clade consisting of the families Ceuthomantidae, Brachycephalidae, Craugastoridae, Eleutherodactylidae and Strabomantidae, with the latter four families recognized by Hedges et al. 2008; these families were all originally subsumed within Eleutherodactylus). Ceuthomantid frogs are presumed to have direct development of terrestrial eggs, as do other members of the clade Terrarana. Much of their natural history is unknown. Written by AmphibiaWeb
Notable Family Characteristics Inhabits montane forests and streams above 500 m elevation Presumed to have direct development Eggs are unpigmented and laid terrestrially Diagnostic characters include: T-shaped terminal phalanges, adductor musculature of the "S" type, lack of intercalary elements at the digit tips, paired lipid-containing protrusions of unknown function in the post-temporal and sacral regions, a very poorly ossified neurocranium, an unusually massive neopalatine bone, notched digital discs on fingers and toes, and the lack of vomerine teeth. Distribution limited to Guiana Highlands of northeastern South America (Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil)
Cartography Credit: Zoe Yoo, UC Berkeley Range maps sources: AmphibiaWeb, UC Berkeley, and IUCN RedList Download PDF
Relevant Reference 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. Heinicke, M. P., Duellman, W. E., Trueb, L., Means, D. B., MacCulloch, R. D., and Hedges, S. B. (2009). "A new frog family (Anura: Terrarana) from South America and an expanded direct-developing clade revealed by molecular phylogeny." Zootaxa, 2211, 1-35. 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.

List with Species Account Details

List with Photos

Genus Ceuthomantis (4 species)

Ceuthomantis aracamuni	account	no photos	no sound/video
Ceuthomantis cavernibardus	account	no photos	no sound/video
Ceuthomantis duellmani	account	no photos	no sound/video
Ceuthomantis smaragdinus	account	photos	no sound/video

Genus Dischidodactylus (2 species)

Dischidodactylus colonnelloi	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Dischidodactylus duidensis	no account	no photos	no sound/video

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