Rhacophoridae |  |
453 species in 22 genera
Commonly Called Asian Tree Frogs, Gliding Frogs
Rhacophorus malabaricus
Photo by Zeeshan Mirza
(Click for family gallery)Asian tree frogs are most closely related to true frogs (Ranidae) but seem to be the ecological equivalents of New World Hylids by being arboreal and having enlarged toe discs at the ends of the fingers to aid in climbing. Most Asian tree frogs have large eyes with horizontal pupils and dorsal coloration that ranges from green to brown and gray to black and white. Many have flash coloration (bright, patterned colors) on the inner thighs or axillary, which confuse predators when the frog leaps away and exposes these areas, thus distorting the frogs overall body pattern to the predator. Some members of the genus Rhacophorus, such as Rhacophoris pardalis, have extensive webbing and are able to glide by extending their limbs out as they jump, thus serving to increase their surface area (this gliding ability is also present in some species in the family Hylidae).
Rhacophoridae was previously considered a subfamily of Ranidae, but several studies agree on its monophyly; it is composed of the subfamilies, Buergeriinae and Rhacophorinae, the former with one genus, Buergeria, limited to east Pacific islands of Taiwan and Japan.
This family includes several extinct species from Sri Lanka, including: Pseudophilautus adspersus, Pseudophilautus dimbullae, Pseudophilautus eximius, Pseudophilautus extirpo, Pseudophilautus halyi, Pseudophilautus leucorhinus (now referred to as wynaadensis, Pseudophilautus maia, Pseudophilautus malcolmsmithi, Pseudophilautus nanus, Pseudophilautus nasutus, Pseudophilautus oxyrhynchus, Pseudophilautus pardus, Pseudophilautus rugatus, Pseudophilautus temporalis, Pseudophilautus variabilis, Pseudophilautus zal, Pseudophilautus zimmeri. Many of these extinct species are only known from one or a few specimens and have not been seen for decades. But there is hope; Pseudophilautus hypomelas and Pseudophilautus stellatus were considered extinct for over a century until rediscovered in 2013.
News Highlight
August 31, 2015: The large (over 400 species) family Rhacophoridae, widespread in the Asian subtropics and tropics with a few species in Africa, displays a great array of life history modes. A multigene phylogenetic analysis of all major clades and nearly a third of the species in the family has enabled Meergaskumbura et al. 2015 to conclude that the ancestral mode was fully aquatic eggs and larvae. The ancestral forms of all but the most basal branches in the tree have a high likelihood of having been terrestrial gel nesters. Direct development and foam nesting characterize the vast majority of rhacophorids and have evolved independently at least twice within the family. As a probable consequence of these evolutionary events, rhacophorids thrive in diverse habitats across a vast geographic range. (DW)August 29, 2016: Factors responsible for the high species richness of tropical amphibians remain elusive. A study by Vijayakumar et al. (2016) of the Shrub Frogs, Raorchestes, the largest vertebrate radiation in Peninsular India, tests alternative hypotheses using a well-resolved, dated phylogeny with information on geological and geographic events, glaciation and climatic history, and ecology (e.g., ecological gradients). All of these factors have played roles in clade diversification, but they vary across space in their effects and have acted at different times during the last (at least) 30 million years. The study highlights the significance of a major gap (Palghat Gap) in the Western Ghats system, and the importance of the geography of the different massifs making up the system. Although most species formation has been allopatric in nature, high elevation massifs have acted as centers of diversification, with parapatry being important, whereas low and mid-elevation portions of the southern Western Ghats act as biodiversity "museums". (DW)
Written by AmphibiaWebNotable Family Characteristics
- Arboreal but Buergeria species may be more terrestrial
- Highly variable reproductive modes, from aquatic tadpoles, foam or cavity nest builders to direct developers
- Axillary amplexus
- Some morphological characters include: 1) paired palatines and frontoparietals in skull; 2) cartilaginous intercalary elements between the terminal and penultimate phalanges; 3) toe discs
- Distribution from sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar to South Asia, including Taiwan and Japan
Cartography Credit: Zoe Yoo, UC Berkeley
Range maps sources: AmphibiaWeb, UC Berkeley, and IUCN RedListRelevant Reference
Li, J.-t., J. Che, R. H. Bain, E.-m. Zhao, and Y.-p. Zhang. 2008. Molecular phylogeny of Rhacophoridae (Anura): a framework of taxonomic reassignment of species within the genera Aquixalus, Chiromantis, Rhacophorus and Philautus. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48: 302–312.
Li, J.-t., Y. Li, S. Klaus, D.-q. Rao, D. M. Hillis, and Y.-p. Zhang. 2013. Diversification of rhacophorid frogs provides evidence for accelerated faunal exchange between India and Eurasia during the Oligocene. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 110: 3441–3446.
Vijayakumar, S. P., Riya C. Menezes, Aditi Jayarajan, Kartik Shanker. 2016. Glaciations, gradients, and geography: multiple drivers of diversification of bush frogs in the Western Ghats Escarpment. Proc. R. Soc. B. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1011.
Vitt, L. J., and J. P. Caldwell. 2013. Herpetology. An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Fourth Edition. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Wickramasinghe, L.J.M., D.R. Vidanapathirana, M.D.G. Rajeev & N. Wickramasinghe (2013). Rediscovery of Pseudophilautus hypomelas (Günther, 1876) (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the Peak Wilderness, Sri Lanka, a species thought to be extinct!. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(17): 5181–5193; http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3547.5181-93
Genus Chirixalus (1 species)
Chirixalus pantaiselatan no account no photos no sound/video
Subfamily Buergeriinae (6 species)Genus Buergeria (6 species) [subfamily Buergeriinae]
Buergeria buergeri account photos no sound/video Buergeria choui no account no photos no sound/video Buergeria japonica account photos no sound/video Buergeria otai no account no photos no sound/video Buergeria oxycephala no account no photos no sound/video Buergeria robusta no account photos no sound/video
Subfamily Rhacophorinae (446 species)Genus Beddomixalus (1 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Beddomixalus bijui account photos no sound/video
Genus Chiromantis (15 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Chiromantis cherrapunjiae no account no photos no sound/video Chiromantis doriae account photos no sound/video Chiromantis dudhwaensis no account photos no sound/video Chiromantis inexpectatus no account photos no sound/video Chiromantis kelleri account no photos no sound/video Chiromantis marginis no account no photos no sound/video Chiromantis nongkhorensis no account photos no sound/video Chiromantis petersii account photos no sound/video Chiromantis punctatus no account no photos no sound/video Chiromantis rufescens account photos no sound/video Chiromantis samkosensis no account no photos no sound/video Chiromantis senapatiensis no account no photos no sound/video Chiromantis shyamrupus no account no photos no sound/video Chiromantis simus no account photos no sound/video Chiromantis xerampelina account photos no sound/video
Genus Feihyla (5 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Feihyla fuhua no account photos no sound/video Feihyla hansenae account photos no sound/video Feihyla kajau account photos no sound/video Feihyla palpebralis no account photos no sound/video Feihyla vittata no account photos no sound/video
Genus Ghatixalus (3 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Ghatixalus asterops account photos no sound/video Ghatixalus magnus account no photos no sound/video Ghatixalus variabilis no account photos no sound/video
Genus Gracixalus (19 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Gracixalus carinensis no account no photos no sound/video Gracixalus gracilipes no account photos no sound/video Gracixalus guangdongensis no account no photos no sound/video Gracixalus jinggangensis no account no photos no sound/video Gracixalus jinxiuensis account no photos no sound/video Gracixalus lumarius account photos no sound/video Gracixalus medogensis no account no photos no sound/video Gracixalus nonggangensis no account no photos no sound/video Gracixalus patkaiensis no account no photos no sound/video Gracixalus quangi account photos no sound/video Gracixalus quyeti no account photos no sound/video Gracixalus sapaensis no account photos no sound/video Gracixalus seesom no account photos no sound/video Gracixalus supercornutus no account photos no sound/video Gracixalus tianlinensis no account no photos no sound/video Gracixalus trieng no account photos no sound/video Gracixalus waza no account no photos no sound/video Gracixalus yunnanensis no account photos no sound/video Gracixalus ziegleri no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Kurixalus (23 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Kurixalus absconditus no account no photos no sound/video Kurixalus ananjevae account no photos no sound/video Kurixalus appendiculatus no account photos sound/video Kurixalus baliogaster no account photos no sound/video Kurixalus banaensis no account photos no sound/video Kurixalus berylliniris no account no photos no sound/video Kurixalus bisacculus no account photos no sound/video Kurixalus chaseni no account no photos no sound/video Kurixalus eiffingeri account photos no sound/video Kurixalus gracilloides no account no photos no sound/video Kurixalus idiootocus account photos no sound/video Kurixalus inexpectatus no account no photos no sound/video Kurixalus lenquanensis no account no photos no sound/video Kurixalus motokawai no account no photos no sound/video Kurixalus naso no account photos no sound/video Kurixalus odontotarsus no account photos no sound/video Kurixalus qionglaiensis no account no photos no sound/video Kurixalus raoi no account no photos no sound/video Kurixalus silvaenaias account no photos no sound/video Kurixalus verrucosus no account photos no sound/video Kurixalus viridescens no account photos no sound/video Kurixalus wangi no account no photos no sound/video Kurixalus yangi no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Leptomantis (13 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Leptomantis angulirostris account photos no sound/video Leptomantis belalongensis no account photos no sound/video Leptomantis bimaculatus no account no photos no sound/video Leptomantis cyanopunctatus no account photos no sound/video Leptomantis fasciatus no account photos no sound/video Leptomantis gadingensis no account photos no sound/video Leptomantis gauni no account photos no sound/video Leptomantis harrissoni no account photos no sound/video Leptomantis malkmusi account no photos no sound/video Leptomantis penanorum no account photos no sound/video Leptomantis pseudacutirostris no account no photos no sound/video Leptomantis robinsonii no account no photos no sound/video Leptomantis rufipes no account photos no sound/video
Genus Liuixalus (7 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Liuixalus calcarius no account photos no sound/video Liuixalus catbaensis no account photos no sound/video Liuixalus feii account no photos no sound/video Liuixalus hainanus no account photos no sound/video Liuixalus ocellatus no account photos no sound/video Liuixalus romeri account photos sound/video Liuixalus shiwandashan no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Mercurana (1 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Mercurana myristicapalustris account photos no sound/video
Genus Nasutixalus (3 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Nasutixalus jerdonii no account photos no sound/video Nasutixalus medogensis no account no photos no sound/video Nasutixalus yingjiangensis no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Nyctixalus (3 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Nyctixalus margaritifer no account no photos no sound/video Nyctixalus pictus no account photos no sound/video Nyctixalus spinosum account photos no sound/video
Genus Philautus (55 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Philautus abditus no account photos no sound/video Philautus acutirostris no account photos no sound/video Philautus acutus no account photos no sound/video Philautus amabilis no account no photos no sound/video Philautus amoenus no account photos no sound/video Philautus aurantium no account photos no sound/video Philautus aurifasciatus no account no photos no sound/video Philautus bunitus no account photos no sound/video Philautus cardamonus account no photos no sound/video Philautus catbaensis no account no photos no sound/video Philautus cinerascens no account no photos no sound/video Philautus cornutus account no photos no sound/video Philautus davidlabangi no account photos no sound/video Philautus disgregus no account no photos no sound/video Philautus dubius no account no photos no sound/video Philautus erythrophthalmus no account no photos no sound/video Philautus everetti account photos no sound/video Philautus gunungensis no account photos no sound/video Philautus hosii no account photos no sound/video Philautus ingeri no account photos no sound/video Philautus jacobsoni no account no photos no sound/video Philautus juliandringi no account photos no sound/video Philautus kakipanjang no account no photos no sound/video Philautus kempii no account no photos no sound/video Philautus kerangae no account photos sound/video Philautus larutensis no account photos no sound/video Philautus leitensis account photos no sound/video Philautus longicrus no account no photos no sound/video Philautus macroscelis no account photos no sound/video Philautus maosonensis no account no photos no sound/video Philautus microdiscus no account no photos no sound/video Philautus mjobergi no account photos no sound/video Philautus namdaphaensis no account no photos no sound/video Philautus nepenthophilus account no photos no sound/video Philautus nephophilus no account no photos no sound/video Philautus nianeae no account no photos no sound/video Philautus pallidipes no account no photos no sound/video Philautus petersi no account photos no sound/video Philautus poecilius no account no photos no sound/video Philautus polymorphus no account no photos no sound/video Philautus refugii no account photos no sound/video Philautus sanctisilvaticus no account no photos no sound/video Philautus saueri no account no photos no sound/video Philautus schmackeri no account no photos no sound/video Philautus similis no account no photos no sound/video Philautus surdus no account no photos no sound/video Philautus surrufus no account no photos no sound/video Philautus tectus no account photos no sound/video Philautus thamyridion no account no photos no sound/video Philautus tytthus no account no photos no sound/video Philautus umbra no account photos no sound/video Philautus ventrimaculatus no account no photos no sound/video Philautus vermiculatus no account photos sound/video Philautus vittiger no account no photos no sound/video Philautus worcesteri no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Polypedates (24 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Polypedates assamensis no account no photos no sound/video Polypedates braueri no account photos no sound/video Polypedates chlorophthalmus no account no photos no sound/video Polypedates colletti no account photos no sound/video Polypedates cruciger no account photos no sound/video Polypedates discantus no account photos no sound/video Polypedates hecticus no account no photos no sound/video Polypedates impresus no account photos no sound/video Polypedates insularis no account no photos no sound/video Polypedates iskandari no account no photos no sound/video Polypedates leucomystax account photos sound/video Polypedates macrotis no account photos no sound/video Polypedates maculatus account photos no sound/video Polypedates megacephalus no account photos no sound/video Polypedates mutus no account photos no sound/video Polypedates occidentalis no account photos no sound/video Polypedates otilophus account photos no sound/video Polypedates pseudocruciger no account photos no sound/video Polypedates pseudotilophus no account no photos no sound/video Polypedates ranwellai account photos no sound/video Polypedates subansiriensis no account no photos no sound/video Polypedates taeniatus no account no photos no sound/video Polypedates teraiensis no account photos no sound/video Polypedates zed no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Pseudophilautus (73 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Genus Raorchestes (77 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Raorchestes agasthyaensis no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes akroparallagi no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes andersoni no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes anili account photos no sound/video Raorchestes annandalii no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes archeos no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes asakgrensis no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes aureus no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes beddomii no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes blandus no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes bobingeri no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes bombayensis no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes cangyuanensis no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes chalazodes account photos sound/video Raorchestes charius no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes chlorosomma no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes chotta no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes chromasynchysi no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes coonoorensis no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes crustai no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes drutaahu no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes dubois account photos no sound/video Raorchestes dulongensis account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes echinatus no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes flaviocularis no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes flaviventris no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes garo no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes ghatei account photos no sound/video Raorchestes glandulosus no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes graminirupes no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes griet account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes gryllus no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes hassanensis no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes hekouensis no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes hillisi no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes honnametti no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes huanglianshan no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes indigo no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes jayarami no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes johnceei no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes kadalarensis no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes kaikatti no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes kakachi no account photos sound/video Raorchestes kakkayamensis no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes keirasabinae no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes kempiae no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes kollimalai no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes lechiya no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes leucolatus no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes longchuanensis no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes luteolus account photos no sound/video Raorchestes malipoensis account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes manohari account photos no sound/video Raorchestes marki no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes menglaensis no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes munnarensis no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes nerostagona account photos no sound/video Raorchestes ochlandrae account photos no sound/video Raorchestes parvulus no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes ponmudi account photos no sound/video Raorchestes primarrumpfi no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes ravii no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes resplendens account photos no sound/video Raorchestes rezakhani account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes sanjappai no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes shillongensis no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes signatus no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes silentvalley no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes sushili no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes theuerkaufi no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes thodai no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes tinniens no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes travancoricus account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes tuberohumerus no account photos no sound/video Raorchestes uthamani no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes vellikkannan no account no photos no sound/video Raorchestes yadongensis no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Rhacophorus (47 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Rhacophorus annamensis no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus baluensis no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus barisani no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus bengkuluensis no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus bifasciatus no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus bipunctatus no account photos sound/video Rhacophorus boeadii no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus borneensis account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus calcadensis no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus calcaneus no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus catamitus no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus dulongensis account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus edentulus no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus exechopygus no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus georgii no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus helenae account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus hoabinhensis no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus hoanglienensis no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus indonesiensis no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus kio no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus laoshan no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus larissae no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus lateralis account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus malabaricus no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus margaritifer no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus marmoridorsum no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus modestus no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus monticola no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus napoensis no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus nigropalmatus account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus norhayatii account photos sound/video Rhacophorus orlovi no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus pardalis account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus poecilonotus no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus qiongica no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus reinwardtii account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus rhodopus no account photos sound/video Rhacophorus robertingeri no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus spelaeus no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus subansiriensis no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus translineatus no account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus tuberculatus no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus turpes no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus vampyrus account photos no sound/video Rhacophorus vanbanicus no account no photos no sound/video Rhacophorus viridimaculatus no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Rohanixalus (1 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Rohanixalus wuguanfui no account no photos no sound/video
Genus Taruga (3 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Taruga eques no account photos sound/video Taruga fastigo account photos no sound/video Taruga longinasus account photos no sound/video
Genus Theloderma (31 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Genus Zhangixalus (42 species) [subfamily Rhacophorinae]
Zhangixalus achantharrhena no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus arboreus account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus arvalis account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus aurantiventris no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus burmanus no account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus chenfui no account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus dennysi no account photos sound/video Zhangixalus dorsoviridis no account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus duboisi no account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus dugritei no account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus dulitensis no account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus faritsalhadii no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus feae no account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus franki no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus hongchibaensis no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus hui no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus hungfuensis no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus jarujini no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus jodiae account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus leucofasciatus no account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus lishuiensis no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus minimus account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus moltrechti no account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus nigropunctatus no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus omeimontis no account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus owstoni account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus pachyproctus no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus pinglongensis no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus prasinatus account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus prominanus no account photos sound/video Zhangixalus puerensis no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus schlegelii account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus smaragdinus no account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus suffry no account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus taipeianus account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus thaoae no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus viridis account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus wui no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus yaoshanensis no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus yinggelingensis account photos no sound/video Zhangixalus yunnanensis no account no photos no sound/video Zhangixalus zhoukaiyae no account no 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.