Leiopelma

Leiopelmatidae
Hochstetters Frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Amphibia
Subclass:	Lissamphibia
Superorder:	Batrachia
Order:	Anura
Suborder:	Archaeobatrachia
Family:	Leiopelmatidae
Genus:	Leiopelma
Species
See text

Leiopelmatidae, or New Zealand primitive frogs, belong to suborder archaeobatrachia. Their belonging to this suborder suggests they are an ancient family. Only four species are known, or believed to belong to the family. Furthermore, as the common name suggests, they are only found in New Zealand.

Their defining characteristics are the extra vertebrae (bringing the total to nine) and muscles allowing the capacity for tail wagging. The family Ascaphidae (found only in North America), of the same suborder, share these "unique" characteristics, and hence the two have often been described as related, or even part of the same family.

Physically, and again similar to ascaphidae, they are extremely small (5 centimetres). Preferring damp conditions, eggs are laid, fertilised, and after hatching the larvae nest in the male's back, all without the need for standing or flowing water. Lifespan may be extremely high (>30 years) for such small organisms (Bell et al. 2004)^.

Species

• Genus Leiopelma
  • Archeys Frog, Leiopelma archeyi (Turbott, 1942)
  • Hamiltons Frog, Leiopelma hamiltoni (McCulloch, 1919)
  • Hochstetters Frog, Leiopelma hochstetteri (Fitzinger, 1861)
  • Maud Island Frog, Leiopelma pakeka (Bell, Daugherty & Hay, 1998)

Extinct Species

• Genus Leiopelma
  • Leiopelma auroraensis
  • Leiopelma markhami
  • Leiopelma waitomoensis

are known by subfossil remains. They became extinct during the past 1000 years.

References

• Bell, Ben D. et al. (2004): "The fate of a population of the endemic frog Leiopelma pakeka (Anura: Leiopelmatidae) translocated to restored habitat on Maud Island, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Zoology vol.31 pp.123-131.
• Roelants, Kim (2005). "Archaeobatrachian paraphyly and pangaean diversification of crown-group frogs". Systematic Biology. 54: 111–126. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
• San Mauro, Diego (2005). "Initial diversification of living amphibians predated the breakup of Pangaea". American Naturalist. 165: 590–599. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
• "DOC: Photo-stage and Archey's Frog". Retrieved 2005-12-05.