Ranidae |  |
432 species in 24 genera
Commonly Called True Frogs
Rana draytonii
Photo by Joyce Gross
(Click for family gallery)The Ranidae family includes species from around the world. They are well-known in North America where some species have been immortalized in American culture (e.g., Mark Twain's Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County was likely the ranid Rana draytonii).
Ranids have generalized frog body forms with strong hindlimbs, toe webbing, and a generalized aquatic tadpole stage. Most species can be both terrestrial and aquatic as adults and breed in water to lay eggs that will hatch into free-living tadpoles.
Known as the True frogs, this family has undergone many taxonomic reorganizations and phylogenetic studies. Many previous subfamilies have been elevated to families, and the relations of remaining species are still unresolved. Several genera were suggested by Frost et al 2006 for previous Rana; however, subsequent studies (Yuan et al. 2016) show doing so would create problems of paraphyly in other genera. Instead they recognized subgenera within Rana for the major traditional species groups; for example, using Lithobates as the subgenus for the Rana palmipes group. AmphibiaWeb recommends the optional use of these subgenera to refer to these major species groups, with names written as Rana (Aquarana) catesbeiana, for example.
Written by AmphibiaWebNotable Family Characteristics
- Terrestrial and aquatic
- Inhabits a wide range of habitats, ecoregions and elevations
- Eggs are typically laid in water and hatch into free-living tadpoles
- Morphological features include: smooth moist skin, strong hindlimbs, webbed toes, usually a distinct visible tympanum
- Distributed worldwide except for southern South America, Madagascar, and most of Australia.
Cartography Credit: Zoe Yoo, UC Berkeley
Range maps sources: AmphibiaWeb, UC Berkeley, and IUCN RedListRelevant Reference
Blackburn, D. C., and D. B. Wake. 2011. Class Amphibia Gray, 1825. Zhang, Z.-q. ed., Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness. Zootaxa 3148: 39–55.
Frost, D.R. et al 2006. The amphibian tree of life. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 297: 1–370
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.
Yuan, Z. et al. 2016. Spatiotemporal diversification of the true frogs (genus Rana): a historical framework for a widely studied group of model organisms. Systematic Biology 65(5):824-842 doi: 10.1093/sysbio/syw055
Genus Abavorana (3 species)
Abavorana decorata no account no photos no sound/video Abavorana luctuosa no account photos no sound/video Abavorana nazgul account photos no sound/video
Genus Amnirana (11 species)
Amnirana albolabris no account photos no sound/video Amnirana amnicola no account photos no sound/video Amnirana asperrima no account photos no sound/video Amnirana darlingi no account no photos no sound/video Amnirana fonensis no account no photos no sound/video Amnirana galamensis account photos sound/video Amnirana lemairei no account no photos no sound/video Amnirana lepus no account photos no sound/video Amnirana longipes no account photos no sound/video Amnirana occidentalis no account no photos no sound/video Amnirana parkeriana no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Amolops (71 species)
Amolops adicola no account no photos no sound/video Amolops afghanus no account no photos no sound/video Amolops akhaorum no account no photos no sound/video Amolops albispinus no account no photos no sound/video Amolops aniqiaoensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops archotaphus no account photos no sound/video Amolops assamensis no account photos no sound/video Amolops australis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops beibengensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops bellulus account no photos no sound/video Amolops caelumnoctis account no photos no sound/video Amolops chakrataensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops chayuensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops chunganensis no account photos no sound/video Amolops compotrix no account no photos no sound/video Amolops cremnobatus account photos no sound/video Amolops cucae no account no photos no sound/video Amolops daiyunensis no account photos no sound/video Amolops daorum no account photos no sound/video Amolops deng no account no photos no sound/video Amolops formosus no account no photos no sound/video Amolops gerbillus no account photos no sound/video Amolops gerutu no account no photos no sound/video Amolops granulosus no account photos no sound/video Amolops gyirongensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops hainanensis account photos no sound/video Amolops himalayanus no account photos no sound/video Amolops hongkongensis no account photos no sound/video Amolops indoburmanensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops iriodes no account no photos no sound/video Amolops jaunsari no account no photos no sound/video Amolops jinjiangensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops kaulbacki no account photos no sound/video Amolops kohimaensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops larutensis account photos no sound/video Amolops lifanensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops loloensis no account photos no sound/video Amolops longimanus no account no photos no sound/video Amolops mahabharatensis account no photos no sound/video Amolops mantzorum account photos no sound/video Amolops marmoratus account photos no sound/video Amolops medogensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops mengdingensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops mengyangensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops minutus no account photos no sound/video Amolops monticola no account photos no sound/video Amolops nepalicus no account no photos no sound/video Amolops nidorbellus no account no photos no sound/video Amolops nyingchiensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops ottorum no account photos no sound/video Amolops pallasitatus no account no photos no sound/video Amolops panhai account photos no sound/video Amolops putaoensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops ricketti no account photos no sound/video Amolops shuichengicus no account no photos no sound/video Amolops sinensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops spinapectoralis no account photos no sound/video Amolops splendissimus no account photos no sound/video Amolops teochew no account no photos no sound/video Amolops torrentis no account photos no sound/video Amolops tuanjieensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops tuberodepressus no account photos no sound/video Amolops viridimaculatus no account no photos no sound/video Amolops vitreus no account no photos no sound/video Amolops wangyufani no account no photos no sound/video Amolops wenshanensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops wuyiensis no account no photos no sound/video Amolops xinduqiao no account no photos no sound/video Amolops yarlungzangbo no account no photos no sound/video Amolops yatseni no account no photos no sound/video Amolops yunkaiensis no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Babina (2 species)
Babina holsti account no photos no sound/video Babina subaspera account photos no sound/video
Genus Chalcorana (10 species)
Chalcorana chalconota no account photos no sound/video Chalcorana eschatia no account photos no sound/video Chalcorana kampeni no account no photos no sound/video Chalcorana labialis no account photos no sound/video Chalcorana macrops no account no photos no sound/video Chalcorana megalonesa no account photos no sound/video Chalcorana mocquardii no account no photos no sound/video Chalcorana parvaccola no account no photos no sound/video Chalcorana raniceps no account photos no sound/video Chalcorana rufipes no account photos no sound/video
Genus Clinotarsus (3 species)
Clinotarsus alticola no account photos no sound/video Clinotarsus curtipes account photos sound/video Clinotarsus penelope no account photos no sound/video
Genus Glandirana (5 species)
Glandirana emeljanovi no account no photos no sound/video Glandirana minima no account no photos no sound/video Glandirana rugosa account photos no sound/video Glandirana susurra no account no photos no sound/video Glandirana tientaiensis no account photos no sound/video
Genus Huia (5 species)
Huia cavitympanum account photos no sound/video Huia masonii no account no photos no sound/video Huia melasma no account no photos no sound/video Huia modiglianii no account no photos no sound/video Huia sumatrana no account photos no sound/video
Genus Humerana (3 species)
Humerana humeralis no account photos no sound/video Humerana miopus no account photos no sound/video Humerana oatesii no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Hydrophylax (4 species)
Hydrophylax bahuvistara no account photos no sound/video Hydrophylax gracilis no account photos no sound/video Hydrophylax leptoglossa no account photos no sound/video Hydrophylax malabaricus no account photos no sound/video
Genus Hylarana (11 species)
Hylarana attigua no account photos no sound/video Hylarana chitwanensis no account no photos no sound/video Hylarana erythraea account photos no sound/video Hylarana garoensis account no photos no sound/video Hylarana latouchii no account photos no sound/video Hylarana macrodactyla no account photos no sound/video Hylarana margariana no account no photos no sound/video Hylarana montivaga no account photos no sound/video Hylarana persimilis no account no photos no sound/video Hylarana taipehensis account photos sound/video Hylarana tytleri no account photos no sound/video
Genus Indosylvirana (13 species)
Indosylvirana aurantiaca no account photos no sound/video Indosylvirana caesari no account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana doni no account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana flavescens no account photos no sound/video Indosylvirana indica no account photos no sound/video Indosylvirana intermedia no account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana magna no account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana montana no account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana nicobariensis no account photos sound/video Indosylvirana serendipi account photos no sound/video Indosylvirana sreeni account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana temporalis no account photos no sound/video Indosylvirana urbis no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Meristogenys (13 species)
Meristogenys amoropalamus account photos no sound/video Meristogenys dyscritus no account no photos no sound/video Meristogenys jerboa no account photos no sound/video Meristogenys kinabaluensis no account photos no sound/video Meristogenys macrophthalmus account no photos no sound/video Meristogenys maryatiae no account photos no sound/video Meristogenys orphnocnemis account photos no sound/video Meristogenys penrissenensis no account photos no sound/video Meristogenys phaeomerus no account no photos no sound/video Meristogenys poecilus no account photos no sound/video Meristogenys stenocephalus no account photos no sound/video Meristogenys stigmachilus no account no photos no sound/video Meristogenys whiteheadi no account photos no sound/video
Genus Nidirana (15 species)
Nidirana adenopleura no account photos no sound/video Nidirana chapaensis no account photos no sound/video Nidirana daunchina account photos no sound/video Nidirana guangdongensis no account no photos no sound/video Nidirana hainanensis no account no photos no sound/video Nidirana leishanensis no account no photos no sound/video Nidirana lini account photos no sound/video Nidirana mangveni no account no photos no sound/video Nidirana nankunensis no account no photos no sound/video Nidirana occidentalis no account no photos no sound/video Nidirana okinavana account photos no sound/video Nidirana pleuraden no account photos no sound/video Nidirana xiangica no account no photos no sound/video Nidirana yaoica account no photos no sound/video Nidirana yeae no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Odorrana (64 species)
Odorrana absita no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana amamiensis account photos no sound/video Odorrana andersonii account photos no sound/video Odorrana anlungensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana aureola no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana bacboensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana banaorum no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana bolavensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana cangyuanensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana chapaensis account photos no sound/video Odorrana chloronota no account photos no sound/video Odorrana dulongensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana exiliversabilis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana fengkaiensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana geminata no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana gigatympana no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana grahami no account photos no sound/video Odorrana graminea no account photos no sound/video Odorrana hainanensis account no photos no sound/video Odorrana heatwolei no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana hejiangensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana hmongorum no account photos no sound/video Odorrana hosii account photos no sound/video Odorrana huanggangensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana ichangensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana indeprensa no account photos no sound/video Odorrana ishikawae account photos no sound/video Odorrana jingdongensis account no photos no sound/video Odorrana junlianensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana khalam no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana kuangwuensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana kweichowensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana leporipes no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana lipuensis account no photos no sound/video Odorrana livida no account photos no sound/video Odorrana lungshengensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana macrotympana no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana margaretae account photos no sound/video Odorrana mawphlangensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana monjerai account no photos no sound/video Odorrana morafkai no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana mutschmanni no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana nanjiangensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana narina account no photos no sound/video Odorrana nasica no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana nasuta no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana orba no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana rotodora no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana sangzhiensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana schmackeri account photos no sound/video Odorrana sinica no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana splendida no account photos no sound/video Odorrana supranarina account no photos no sound/video Odorrana swinhoana no account photos no sound/video Odorrana tianmuii no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana tiannanensis no account photos no sound/video Odorrana tormota account no photos no sound/video Odorrana trankieni account no photos no sound/video Odorrana utsunomiyaorum account no photos no sound/video Odorrana versabilis no account photos no sound/video Odorrana wuchuanensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana yentuensis no account no photos no sound/video Odorrana yizhangensis no account photos no sound/video Odorrana zhaoi account no photos no sound/video
Genus Papurana (18 species)
Papurana arfaki no account photos no sound/video Papurana aurata no account no photos no sound/video Papurana celebensis no account photos no sound/video Papurana daemeli account photos sound/video Papurana elberti no account photos no sound/video Papurana florensis no account photos no sound/video Papurana garritor no account no photos no sound/video Papurana grisea account photos no sound/video Papurana jimiensis no account no photos no sound/video Papurana kreffti no account photos no sound/video Papurana milleti no account photos no sound/video Papurana milneana no account no photos no sound/video Papurana moluccana no account no photos no sound/video Papurana novaeguineae no account no photos no sound/video Papurana papua no account photos no sound/video Papurana supragrisea no account no photos no sound/video Papurana volkerjane no account no photos no sound/video Papurana waliesa no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Pelophylax (26 species)
Genus Pterorana (1 species)
Pterorana khare no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Pulchrana (18 species)
Pulchrana banjarana no account photos no sound/video Pulchrana baramica no account photos sound/video Pulchrana centropeninsularis no account no photos no sound/video Pulchrana debussyi no account no photos no sound/video Pulchrana fantastica no account photos no sound/video Pulchrana glandulosa no account photos no sound/video Pulchrana grandocula no account photos no sound/video Pulchrana guttmani account no photos no sound/video Pulchrana laterimaculata no account photos sound/video Pulchrana mangyanum no account no photos no sound/video Pulchrana melanomenta no account no photos no sound/video Pulchrana moellendorffi no account photos no sound/video Pulchrana picturata no account photos no sound/video Pulchrana rawa no account no photos no sound/video Pulchrana siberu account photos no sound/video Pulchrana signata no account photos sound/video Pulchrana similis no account photos no sound/video Pulchrana sundabarat no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Rana (106 species)
Genus Sanguirana (9 species)
Sanguirana acai no account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana aurantipunctata account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana everetti no account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana igorota account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana luzonensis no account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana mearnsi no account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana sanguinea no account photos no sound/video Sanguirana tipanan no account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana varians no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Staurois (6 species)
Staurois guttatus no account photos no sound/video Staurois latopalmatus no account photos no sound/video Staurois natator no account photos no sound/video Staurois nubilus no account no photos no sound/video Staurois parvus no account photos no sound/video Staurois tuberilinguis no account photos no sound/video
Genus Sumaterana (3 species)
Sumaterana crassiovis no account photos no sound/video Sumaterana dabulescens no account photos no sound/video Sumaterana montana no account photos no sound/video
Genus Sylvirana (12 species)
Sylvirana annamitica no account photos no sound/video Sylvirana cubitalis no account photos no sound/video Sylvirana faber account no photos no sound/video Sylvirana guentheri account photos sound/video Sylvirana lacrima no account no photos no sound/video Sylvirana malayana no account no photos no sound/video Sylvirana maosonensis no account photos no sound/video Sylvirana montosa no account photos no sound/video Sylvirana mortenseni no account photos no sound/video Sylvirana nigrovittata no account photos sound/video Sylvirana roberti no account no photos no sound/video Sylvirana spinulosa no account photos no sound/video
Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: https://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed:
AmphibiaWeb's policy on data use.