Ranidae
(see family information on Tree of Life site)
403 species in 23 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.
Relevant 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 (2 species)
Abavorana luctuosa no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Abavorana nazgul AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Genus Amnirana (12 species)
Amnirana albolabris no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amnirana amnicola no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amnirana asperrima no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amnirana darlingi no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amnirana fonensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amnirana galamensis AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video Amnirana lemairei no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amnirana lepus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amnirana longipes no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amnirana nicobariensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video Amnirana occidentalis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amnirana parkeriana no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Genus Amolops (55 species)
Amolops afghanus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops akhaorum no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops albispinus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops aniqiaoensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops archotaphus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops assamensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops australis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops bellulus AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops caelumnoctis AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops chakrataensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops chayuensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops chunganensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops compotrix no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops cremnobatus AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops cucae no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops daiyunensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops daorum no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops formosus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops gerbillus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops gerutu no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops granulosus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops hainanensis AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops himalayanus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops hongkongensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops indoburmanensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops iriodes no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops jaunsari no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops jinjiangensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops kaulbacki no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops kohimaensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops larutensis AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops liangshanensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops lifanensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops loloensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops longimanus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops mantzorum AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops marmoratus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops medogensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops mengyangensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops minutus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops monticola no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops nidorbellus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops nyingchiensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops panhai AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops ricketti no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops spinapectoralis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops splendissimus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops torrentis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops tuberodepressus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Amolops viridimaculatus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops vitreus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops wenshanensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops wuyiensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops xinduqiao no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Amolops yunkaiensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Genus Babina (10 species)
Babina adenopleura no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Babina caldwelli no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Babina chapaensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Babina daunchina no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Babina hainanensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Babina holsti AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Babina lini AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Babina okinavana AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Babina pleuraden no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Babina subaspera AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Genus Chalcorana (11 species)
Chalcorana chalconota no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Chalcorana eschatia no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Chalcorana kampeni no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Chalcorana labialis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Chalcorana macrops no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Chalcorana megalonesa no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Chalcorana mocquardii no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Chalcorana parvaccola no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Chalcorana raniceps no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Chalcorana rufipes no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Chalcorana scutigera no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Genus Clinotarsus (3 species)
Clinotarsus alticola no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Clinotarsus curtipes AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video Clinotarsus penelope no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Genus Glandirana (5 species)
Glandirana emeljanovi no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Glandirana minima no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Glandirana rugosa AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Glandirana susurra no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Glandirana tientaiensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Genus Huia (5 species)
Huia cavitympanum AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Huia masonii no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Huia melasma no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Huia modiglianii no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Huia sumatrana no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Genus Humerana (3 species)
Humerana humeralis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Humerana miopus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Humerana oatesii no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Genus Hydrophylax (4 species)
Hydrophylax bahuvistara no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Hydrophylax gracilis AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Hydrophylax leptoglossa no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Hydrophylax malabaricus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Genus Hylarana (12 species)
Hylarana attigua no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Hylarana celebensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Hylarana chitwanensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Hylarana erythraea AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Hylarana garoensis AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Hylarana latouchii no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Hylarana macrodactyla no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Hylarana margariana no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Hylarana montivaga no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Hylarana persimilis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Hylarana taipehensis AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video Hylarana tytleri no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Genus Indosylvirana (13 species)
Indosylvirana aurantiaca AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Indosylvirana caesari no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana doni no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana flavescens no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Indosylvirana indica no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Indosylvirana intermedia no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana magna no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana milleti no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana montana no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana serendipi no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Indosylvirana sreeni AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Indosylvirana temporalis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Indosylvirana urbis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Genus Meristogenys (13 species)
Meristogenys amoropalamus AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Meristogenys dyscritus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Meristogenys jerboa no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Meristogenys kinabaluensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Meristogenys macrophthalmus AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Meristogenys maryatiae no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Meristogenys orphnocnemis AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Meristogenys penrissenensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Meristogenys phaeomerus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Meristogenys poecilus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Meristogenys stenocephalus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Meristogenys stigmachilus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Meristogenys whiteheadi no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Genus Odorrana (61 species)
Odorrana absita no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana amamiensis AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana andersonii no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana anlungensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana arunachalensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana aureola no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana bacboensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana banaorum no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana bolavensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana cangyuanensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana chapaensis AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana chloronota no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana exiliversabilis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana fengkaiensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana geminata no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana gigatympana no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana grahami no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana graminea no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana hainanensis AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana heatwolei no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana hejiangensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana hmongorum no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana hosii AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana huanggangensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana indeprensa no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana ishikawae AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana jingdongensis AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana junlianensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana khalam no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana kuangwuensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana leporipes no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana lipuensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana livida no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana lungshengensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana macrotympana no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana margaretae no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana mawphlangensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana monjerai AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana morafkai no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana mutschmanni no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana nanjiangensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana narina AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana nasica no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana nasuta no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana orba no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana rotodora no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana schmackeri AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana sinica no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana splendida no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana supranarina AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana swinhoana no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana tianmuii no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana tiannanensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana tormota AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana trankieni AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana utsunomiyaorum AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana versabilis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana wuchuanensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana yentuensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Odorrana yizhangensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Odorrana zhaoi AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Genus Papurana (16 species)
Papurana arfaki no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Papurana aurata no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Papurana daemeli AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video Papurana elberti no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Papurana florensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Papurana garritor no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Papurana grisea AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Papurana jimiensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Papurana kreffti no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Papurana milneana no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Papurana moluccana no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Papurana novaeguineae no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Papurana papua no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Papurana supragrisea no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Papurana volkerjane no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Papurana waliesa no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Genus Pelophylax (26 species)
Genus Pterorana (1 species)
Pterorana khare no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Genus Pulchrana (17 species)
Pulchrana banjarana no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Pulchrana baramica no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video Pulchrana centropeninsularis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Pulchrana debussyi no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Pulchrana fantastica no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Pulchrana glandulosa no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Pulchrana grandocula no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Pulchrana guttmani AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Pulchrana laterimaculata no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video Pulchrana mangyanum no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Pulchrana melanomenta no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Pulchrana moellendorffi no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Pulchrana picturata no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Pulchrana rawa no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Pulchrana siberu AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Pulchrana signata no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video Pulchrana similis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Genus Rana (104 species)
Genus Sanguirana (9 species)
Sanguirana acai no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana aurantipunctata AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana everetti no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana igorota AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana luzonensis no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana mearnsi no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana sanguinea no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Sanguirana tipanan no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Sanguirana varians no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video
Genus Staurois (6 species)
Staurois guttatus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Staurois latopalmatus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Staurois natator no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Staurois nubilus no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Staurois parvus no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Staurois tuberilinguis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Genus Sumaterana (3 species)
Sumaterana crassiovis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Sumaterana dabulescens no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Sumaterana montana no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
Genus Sylvirana (12 species)
Sylvirana annamitica no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Sylvirana cubitalis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Sylvirana faber AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Sylvirana guentheri AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video Sylvirana lacrima no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Sylvirana malayana no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Sylvirana maosonensis no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Sylvirana montosa no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Sylvirana mortenseni no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video Sylvirana nigrovittata no AmphibiaWeb account photos sound/video Sylvirana roberti no AmphibiaWeb account no photos no sound/video Sylvirana spinulosa no AmphibiaWeb account photos no sound/video
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