Petropedetidae
Family of amphibians
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Petropedetidae are a family of frogs containing two genera and 11 species.[1][2] They are found in sub-Saharan tropical Africa[1] and are sometimes known under common name African torrent frogs.[3]
| Petropedetidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Petropedetes cameronensis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Superfamily: | Ranoidea |
| Family: | Petropedetidae Noble, 1931 |
| Type genus | |
| Petropedetes Reichenow, 1874 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Petropedetinae | |
They are inhabitants of the splash-water zone of clear-running streams predominantly in forests. Tadpoles are either semiterrestrial in the spray zone or fully aquatic in zones of the strongest currents. Some species guard their clutches.[3] They are medium- to large-sized frogs (Arthroleptides and Petropedetes).[3]
Taxonomy
The Petropedetidae are related to true frogs, family Ranidae, and have often been considered as a subfamily within a broadly defined Ranidae.[4] However, they are now commonly treated as a family,[1][2][4][5] although the genera included may differ between sources. In particular, Conraua is sometimes included in the Petropedetidae,[5] instead of forming its own monogeneric family Conrauidae.[1][2][5]
Genera
The two genera in the family are:[1][2]
- Arthroleptides Nieden, 1911 – African torrent frogs, three species
- Petropedetes Reichenow, 1874 – African water frogs, nine species
Recognition of Arthroleptides as a genus separate from Petropedetes is relatively recent.[3][6]