Eleutherodactylidae
202 species in 4 genera
This family is an assemblage of four genera of direct-developing frogs found throughout the West Indies, in peninsular Florida (where it may be either native or introduced) and from southern Texas (USA) south to northwestern Ecuador, with some genera in northeastern South America and in the Amazon Basin. Frogs of the family Eleutherodactylidae range in size from 10.5 mm SVL in female Eleutherodactylus iberia to 88 mm in female Eleutherodactylus inoptatus (Hedges et al. 2008). Eleutherodactylus iberia is one of the smallest frogs in the world. Miniaturization has occurred across five families of frogs (Brachycephalidae, Eleutherodactylidae, Leptodactylidae, Microhylidae, and Sooglossidae), and with it come constraints in morphological development, including digital reduction and loss of vomerine teeth. Miniaturized frog species also tend to have high-frequency calls (>5 kHz) and to have clutches with very small numbers of eggs (sometimes only one egg). Another unusual species is Eleutherodactylus jasperi, an ovoviviparous frog which retains developing embryos within eggs in the oviduct, giving birth to live froglets. This species is endemic to southern Puerto Rico, but is thought to be extinct as it has not been seen since 1981.
An adult Eleutherodactylus iberia, one of the smallest known frogs at just 10.5 mm
Photo by Ansel Fong
(Click for details)Species in the family Eleutherodactylidae share the following characters: (1) cartilaginous sternum; (2) vertebral shield not present; (3) transverse processes of posterior presacral vertebrae not expanded broadly; (4) cervical cotyles widely spaced; (5) eight presacral vertebrae, with Presacrals I and II not fused; (6) cranial elements not co-ossified with overlying skin; (7) omosternum present; (8) sacral diapophyses rounded to barely dilated; (9) maxillary arch usually dentate, with blunt, pedicellate teeth; (10) alary processes of premaxillae broadened at base, usually directed dorsally or posterodorsally; (11) palatal shelf of premaxilla usually broad, may be indented or not; (12) pars facialis of maxilla usually deep, not exostosed; (13) palatal shelf of maxilla moderately broad, may bear pterygoid process or not; (14) maxillary arch complete; maxillae tapering posteriorly; quadratojugal slender; (15) nasals usually large with broad median contact; (16) nasals usually not in contact with maxillae or pterygoids; (17) nasals not in contact with frontoparietals; (18) frontoparietal fontanelle usually absent; (19) frontoparietals usually not exostosed; cranial crests present in some Eleutherodactylus; (20) frontoparietals fused with prootics or not; (21) temporal arcade absent; (22) epiotic eminences prominent to indistinct; (23) carotid artery passes dorsal to cranial elements; (24) zygomatic ramus of squamosal broad to slender, usually not in contact with maxilla; (25) otic ramus of squamosal short to elongate, may be expanded into otic plate or not; (26) squamosal-maxilla angle 44–67°; (27) columella present, except in fenestra ovalis directed laterally; (28) vomers varying in size; dentigerous processes absent in Eleutherodactylus (subgenus Syrrhophus), and some diminutive species of Eleutherodactylus (subgenus Euhyas); (29) neopalatines usually broad; slender in Eleutherodactylus (subgenus Syrrhophus); (30) sphenethmoid usually entire, divided in some Eleutherodactylus (subgenus Syrrhophus); (31) anterior ramus of parasphenoid narrow to broad, no keel; (32) parasphenoid alae either present at right angle to axis of skull or deflected posteriorly, usually not overlapped by pterygoids; (33) pterygoid lacks ventral flange; anterior ramus does not reach neopalatine; (34) occipital condyles small to large, widely separated medially, may be stalked or not; (35) odontoids lacking; (36) terminal phalanges T-shaped; (37) usually three phalanges in Finger IV (two in some Adelophryne); (38) Toe I fully developed and free; (39) alary process of hyoid plate may be on slender stalk or not; (40) mandibular ramus of trigeminal nerve passes lateral to the m. adductor mandibulae (condition unknown in Adelophryne); (41) prominent external body glands usually absent, though lumbar glands are present in some Eleutherodactylus; (42) males have single or paired subgular vocal sac, single pectoral vocal sac, or no vocal sac; (43) males hav vocal slits (or not) and lack nuptial pads; (44) hands unwebbed; feet usually unwebbed or webbed basally, but foot webbing is extensive in some Eleutherodactylus; (45) terminal digits usually expanded with pads set off by distinct circumferential grooves; digits apically pointed in Adelophryne and some Diasporus; grooves present only laterally in Phyzelaphryne; (46) inner and outer metatarsal tubercles present, inner tubercle not spade-like; (47) tympanic membrane and annulus well differentiated or not; (48) amplexus axillary; (49) eggs are deposited terrestrially or arboreally and undergo direct development; ovoviviparity exists in at least one species, Eleutherodactylus (Eleutherodactylus) jasperi.
Literature cited:
Hedges, S. B., Duellman, W. E., and Heinicke, M. P. (2008). New World direct-developing frogs (Anura: Terrarana): Molecular phylogeny, classification, biogeography, and conservation. Zootaxa 1737: 1-182.
Genus Adelophryne (6 species)
Adelophryne adiastola English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Adelophryne baturitensis no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Adelophryne gutturosa no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Adelophryne maranguapensis no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Adelophryne pachydactyla no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Adelophryne patamona no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Genus Diasporus (9 species)
Diasporus anthrax no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Diasporus diastema no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Diasporus gularis no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Diasporus hylaeformis no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Diasporus quidditus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Diasporus tigrillo no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Diasporus tinker no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Diasporus ventrimaculatus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Diasporus vocator no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Genus Eleutherodactylus (186 species)
Eleutherodactylus abbotti English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus acmonis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus adelus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus albipes English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus alcoae no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus alticola no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus amadeus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus amplinympha no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus andicola no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus andrewsi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus angustidigitorum no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus antillensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus aporostegus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus apostates no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus armstrongi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus atkinsi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus audanti no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus auriculatoides no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus auriculatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus bakeri no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus barlagnei no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus bartonsmithi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus blairhedgesi no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus bothroboans no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus bresslerae English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus brevirostris no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus brittoni English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus caribe no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus casparii no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus cavernicola no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus chlorophenax no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus cochranae English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus cooki English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus coqui English account no non-English account photos sound/video Eleutherodactylus corona no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus counouspeus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus cubanus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus cundalli no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus cuneatus no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides English account no non-English account photos sound/video Eleutherodactylus darlingtoni no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus dennisi no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus dilatus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus dimidiatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus diplasius no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus dixoni no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus dolomedes no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus eileenae no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus emiliae no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus eneidae no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus erythroproctus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus etheridgei English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus eunaster no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus flavescens no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus fowleri no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus furcyensis no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus fuscus no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus glamyrus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus glandulifer no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus glanduliferoides no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus glaphycompus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus glaucoreius no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus goini no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus gossei no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus grabhami no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus grahami no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus grandis no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus greyi no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus griphus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus gryllus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus guanahacabibes no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus guantanamera English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus gundlachi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus guttilatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus haitianus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus hedricki English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus heminota no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus hypostenor no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus iberia English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus inoptatus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus intermedius English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus interorbitalis no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus ionthus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus jamaicensis no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus jasperi English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus jaumei no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus johnstonei English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus jugans no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus junori no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus karlschmidti no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus klinikowskii no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus lamprotes no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus leberi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus lentus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus leoncei no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus leprus no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus limbatus English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus limbensis no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus locustus no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus longipes no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus lucioi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus luteolus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus maestrensis no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus mariposa English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus marnockii English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus martinicensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus maurus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus melacara English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus melatrigonum no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus michaelschmidi no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus minutus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus modestus no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus monensis no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus montanus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus nitidus no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus nivicolimae no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus nortoni no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus notidodes no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus nubicola no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus olibrus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus orcutti no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus orientalis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus oxyrhyncus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus pallidus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus pantoni no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus parabates no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus paralius no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus parapelates no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus patriciae no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus paulsoni no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus pentasyringos no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus pezopetrus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus pictissimus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus pinarensis no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus pinchoni English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus pipilans no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus pituinus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus planirostris English account no non-English account photos sound/video Eleutherodactylus poolei no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus portoricensis no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus principalis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus probolaeus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus rhodesi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus richmondi no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus ricordii English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus riparius no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus rivularis no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus rogersi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus ronaldi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus rubrimaculatus no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus rucillensis no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus rufescens no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus rufifemoralis no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus ruthae no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus saxatilis no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus schmidti no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus schwartzi no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus sciagraphus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus semipalmatus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus simulans English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus sisyphodemus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus sommeri no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus staurometopon no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus symingtoni English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus syristes no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus teretistes no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus tetajulia English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus thomasi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus thorectes no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus toa no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus tonyi no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus turquinensis English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus tychathrous no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus unicolor English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus varians no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus varleyi English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus ventrilineatus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus verrucipes no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus verruculatus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus warreni no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus weinlandi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus wetmorei no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus wightmanae English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus zeus no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Eleutherodactylus zugi no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Genus Phyzelaphryne (1 species)
Phyzelaphryne miriamae no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2012. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: http://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed: 2012).
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