AMPHIBIAWEB

Leptodactylidae

223 species in 14 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 (102 species)

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

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

Genus Physalaemus (49 species)    [subfamily Leiuperinae]
Physalaemus aguirrei no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus albifrons no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus albonotatus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus angrensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus atim no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus atlanticus no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Physalaemus barrioi AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Physalaemus biligonigerus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus bokermanni no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Physalaemus caete no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus camacan no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus carrizorum no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus centralis AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Physalaemus cicada no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus claptoni no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus crombiei no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus cuqui no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus cuvieri no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Physalaemus deimaticus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus ephippifer AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus erikae no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus erythros no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus evangelistai no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus feioi no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus fernandezae no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus fischeri no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus gracilis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus henselii no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus insperatus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus irroratus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus jordanensis AmphibiaWeb account no photos sound/video
Physalaemus kroyeri no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus lateristriga no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus lisei no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus maculiventris no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus marmoratus no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Physalaemus maximus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus moreirae AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Physalaemus nanus no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Physalaemus nattereri no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Physalaemus obtectus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus olfersii no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Physalaemus orophilus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus riograndensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus rupestris no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Physalaemus santafecinus AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus signifer no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus soaresi no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Physalaemus spiniger no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video

Genus Pleurodema (15 species)    [subfamily Leiuperinae]
Pleurodema alium no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pleurodema bibroni no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pleurodema borellii no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema brachyops no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema bufoninum no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema cinereum no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema cordobae no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pleurodema diplolister AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Pleurodema fuscomaculatum no AmphibiaWeb account no photos sound/video
Pleurodema guayapae no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema kriegi no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema marmoratum AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema nebulosum no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pleurodema thaul AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pleurodema tucumanum no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video

Genus Pseudopaludicola (26 species)    [subfamily Leiuperinae]
Pseudopaludicola ameghini no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Pseudopaludicola atragula no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola boliviana no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola canga no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola ceratophyes no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola coracoralinae no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola facureae no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Pseudopaludicola falcipes no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola florencei no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola giarettai no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Pseudopaludicola hyleaustralis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola ibisoroca no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola jaredi no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola llanera no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola matuta no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola mineira no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola motorzinho no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola murundu no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola mystacalis no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Pseudopaludicola parnaiba no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola pocoto no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola pusilla no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola restinga no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola saltica no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola serrana no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Pseudopaludicola ternetzi no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video

Genus Somuncuria (1 species)    [subfamily Leiuperinae]
Somuncuria somuncurensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Subfamily Leptodactylinae (106 species)

Genus Adenomera (21 species)    [subfamily Leptodactylinae]
Adenomera ajurauna no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera andreae AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Adenomera araucaria no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Adenomera bokermanni no AmphibiaWeb account no photos sound/video
Adenomera chicomendesi no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera coca no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Adenomera cotuba no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Adenomera diptyx no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Adenomera engelsi no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera guarayo no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera heyeri no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Adenomera hylaedactyla AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Adenomera juikitam no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Adenomera kweti no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera lutzi no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera marmorata no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Adenomera martinezi no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Adenomera nana no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Adenomera saci no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Adenomera simonstuarti AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Adenomera thomei no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video

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

Genus Leptodactylus (81 species)    [subfamily Leptodactylinae]
Leptodactylus albilabris no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus apepyta no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus barrioi no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus bolivianus AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus bufonius no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus caatingae AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus camaquara no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus chaquensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus colombiensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus cunicularius no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus cupreus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus didymus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus diedrus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus discodactylus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus elenae AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus fallax AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus flavopictus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus fragilis AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus furnarius no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus fuscus no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus gracilis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus griseigularis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus guianensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus hallowelli no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus hylodes no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus insularum no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus jolyi no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus kilombo no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus knudseni no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus labrosus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus labyrinthicus no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus laticeps no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus latinasus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus latrans AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus lauramiriamae no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus leptodactyloides no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus lithonaetes AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus longirostris no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus macrosternum no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus magistris no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus marambaiae no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus melanonotus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus myersi no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus mystaceus no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus mystacinus AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus natalensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus nesiotus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus notoaktites no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus ochraceus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus oreomantis no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus paraensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus pascoensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus pentadactylus AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus peritoaktites no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus petersii no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus plaumanni no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus podicipinus no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus poecilochilus AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus pustulatus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus rhodomerus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus rhodomystax no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus rhodonotus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus rhodostima no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus riveroi no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus rugosus AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus sabanensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus savagei no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus sertanejo no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus silvanimbus AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus spixi no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus stenodema no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Leptodactylus syphax no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus tapiti no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus troglodytes no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus turimiquensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus validus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus vastus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus ventrimaculatus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus viridis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus wagneri no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Leptodactylus watu no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video

Genus Lithodytes (1 species)    [subfamily Leptodactylinae]
Lithodytes lineatus AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video
Subfamily Paratelmatobiinae (15 species)

Genus Crossodactylodes (5 species)    [subfamily Paratelmatobiinae]
Crossodactylodes bokermanni no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Crossodactylodes itambe no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Crossodactylodes izecksohni no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Crossodactylodes pintoi no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Crossodactylodes septentrionalis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video

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

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

Genus Scythrophrys (1 species)    [subfamily Paratelmatobiinae]
Scythrophrys sawayae no AmphibiaWeb 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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