Megophryidae
| Megophryidae | |
|---|---|
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| Java Spadefoot Toad (Leptobrachium hasseltii) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Subclass: | Lissamphibia |
| Superorder: | Batrachia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Suborder: | Mesobatrachia |
| Family: | Megophryidae |
| Genera | |
|
About a dozen, see text |
|
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|
| Global range (black) | |
Megophryidae are a large family of frogs native to the warm southeast of Asia, from the Himalaya foothills eastwards, south to Indonesia and the Greater Sunda Islands in Maritime Southeast Asia, and extending to the Philippines.[1] As of mid-2008 it encompasses approximately 70-100 species of frog divided between 12 genera. For lack of a vernacular name, they are commonly called megophryids.
The megophryids are notable for their camouflage, especially those that live in forests, which often look like dead leaves. The camouflage is accurate to the point of some having skin folds that look like leaf veins, and at least one species, the Long-nosed Horned Frog (Megophrys montana) has sharp projections extending past the eye and nose, which disguise the frog shape.[1]
Megophryids range in size from 2 centimetres (0.79 in) to 12.5 centimetres (4.9 in) in length. The adults' tongue is noticeably paddle-shaped. Their tadpoles can be found in a variety of waters, but especially ponds and streams. The tadpoles are extremely diverse in form because of the variety of habitats they inhabit.
[edit] Genera
Family Megophryinidae
- Atympanophrys
- Borneophrys - Rough horned frogs Delorme, Dubois, Grosjean & Ohler, 2006 (formerly in Megophrys)
- Brachytarsophrys – Karin Hills frogs
- Leptobrachella - Borneo frogs
- Leptobrachium – Eastern spadefoot toads
- Leptolalax - Asian toads
- Megophrys - Asian horned toads
- Ophryophryne - Mountain toads
- Oreolalax
- Scutiger - Cat-eyed toads
- Vibrissaphora - Spiny toads (sometimes included in Leptobrachium)
- Xenophrys
[edit] References
- ^ a b Zweifel, Richard G. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 88. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Megophryidae |
- Cogger, H.G; Zweifel, R.G. & Kirschner, D. (2004): Encyclopedia of Reptiles & Amphibians (2nd ed.). Fog City Press. ISBN 1-877019-69-0
- Heying, H. (2003): Animal Diversity Web – Megophryidae. Retrieved 2006-MAY-08.
