Brachycephalidae (see family information on Tree of Life site)
Saddle-back toads
This family is an assemblage of tiny frogs from southeastern Brazil, composed of only a single genus, Brachycephalus. They are known as “saddle-back toads” or “pumpkin toads,” due to the presence of bony shields above their vertebrae and the bright orange coloration of some of the members of this family. At first they were considered to be Bufonids, but absence of a Bidder’s organ (ovarian tissue on the testes, a synapomorphy of Bufonidae) led to their recognition as an independent family. Due to their small size and large genomes (an amphibian characteristic), these frogs have “lost” some of their digits (2 on the hand and 3 or 4 on the feet). These frogs are direct developers with inguinal and axillary amplexus. Brachycephalus ephippium is known to possess tetrodotoxin, a strong toxin also found in newts of the genus Taricha and in puffer fish. The genera are united by the following morphological characters: 1) 7 presacral vertebrae; 2) ribs absent; 3) urostyle free with 2 condyles; 4) sternum and omosternum absent; 5) palatines and prevomers absent; 6) no teeth on premaxilla or maxilla; 7) pupil horizontal; 8) Bidder's organ absent; 9) direct developers; 10) complete ossification of epicoracoid cartilages with coracoids and clavicles; 11) have a dermal bony shield above each vertebrae (dorsally looking like a saddle, thus their vernacular name).
Brachycephalus ephippium
Photo by Germano Woehl Jr.
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Genus Brachycephalus (11 species)
Brachycephalus alipioi no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Brachycephalus brunneus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Brachycephalus didactylus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Brachycephalus ephippium species account photos no range maps no sounds Brachycephalus ferruginus no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Brachycephalus hermogenesi species account photos no range maps no sounds Brachycephalus izecksohni no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Brachycephalus nodoterga no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Brachycephalus pernix species account no photos no range maps no sounds Brachycephalus pombali no species account no photos no range maps no sounds Brachycephalus vertebralis no species account no photos no range maps no sounds
Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2008. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: http://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed: 2008).
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