Discoglossidae (see family information on Tree of Life site)

Disc-tongued frogs Discoglossidae is a small family confined to Europe and northwestern Africa. These frogs possess slit-like pupils and may be brightly patterned. Alytes, one of the two genera, are known as the midwife toads; they are terrestrial, look like toads, and males attach egg clutches to their back and thighs (thus the common name) which they take to water when the larvae are ready to hatch. The genus Discoglossus resembles frogs of the genus Rana in its smooth skin texture. Discoglossid frogs emerge at night from underground burrows which they construct by digging headfirst. Females of some species vocalize in response to a male’s call. Morphological characters uniting the two genera are: 1) v-shaped parahyoid bone; 2) narrow epipubic cartilage plate; 3) lack of palatine bones; 4) 8 opisthocoelous vertebrae; 5) bicondylar articulation of urostyle and sacrum; 6) free ribs on vertebrae 2-4; 7) astragalus (tibiale) and calcaneum (fibulare) fused only at the ends.

Discoglossus galganoi Photo by Diogo Verissimo (Click for details)

Genus Discoglossus (6 species)

Discoglossus galganoi	species account	photos	range maps	no sounds
Discoglossus montalentii	species account	photos	range maps	no sounds
Discoglossus nigriventer	species account	no photos	no range maps	no sounds
Discoglossus pictus	species account	photos	range maps	no sounds
Discoglossus sardus	species account	photos	range maps	no sounds
Discoglossus scovazzi	no species account	photos	no range maps	no sounds

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