Rhacophoridae

(vertebrate zoology) A family of arboreal frogs in the suborder Diplasiocoela.

(Rhacophoridae)

Class: Amphibia

Order: Anura

Family: Rhacophoridae

Thumbnail description
Small to relatively large treefrogs with the two halves of the pectoral girdle fused midventrally and expanded disks on the fingers and toes

Size
0.6–4.9 in (15–120 mm) in snout-vent length

Number of genera, species
13 genera; 341 species

Habitat
Both primary and disturbed forests, agricultural fields, ponds, streams, and savanna

Conservation status
Endangered: 1 species; Vulnerable: 2 species; Lower Risk/Near Threatened: 1 species; Data Deficient: 2 species

Distribution
Southeast Asia from eastern India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, to Japan, Borneo, Celebes, and the Philippines; also in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar

Evolution and systematics

Asian treefrogs are most closely related to the true frogs (Ranidae) as evidenced by abutting epicoracoids in the pectoral girdle (firmisterny), the metasternum forming a bony style, and the presence of the cutaneous pectoris muscle. However, rhacophorids differ from ranids by having an intercalary element between the penultimate and terminal phalanges in the digits.

No fossils are known for the family. Relationships among the frogs currently assigned to Rhacophoridae are problematic. Results of morphological and molecular analyses are controversial. Some workers place rhacophorids as a subfamily of Ranidae; others recognize as many as three separate families, one of which also contains species usually placed in Ranidae. Herein, the 341 recognized species of rhacophorids are placed in 12 genera in three subfamilies, though 13 genera may be recognized.

Resources

Alcala, A. C., and W. C. Brown. Philippine Amphibians: An Illustrated Field Guide. Makati City, Philippines: Bookmark, Inc., 1998.

Channing, A. Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa. Ithaca, NY: Comstock Publishing Associates, 2001.

Glaw, F., and M. Vences. A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Frankfurt, Germany: Edition Chimaira, 1999.

Inger, R. F., and R. B. Stuebing. A Field Guide to the Frogs of Borneo. Kota, Indonesia: Natural History Publications, 1997.

Maeda, N., and M. Matsui. Frogs and Toads of Japan. Tokyo, Japan: Bun-Ichi Sogo Shuppan Co., 1990.

Passmore, N. I., and V. C. Carruthers. South African Frogs: A Complete Guide. Johannesburg, South Africa: Witwatersrand University Press, 1995.

Schiøtz, A. Treefrogs of Africa. Frankfurt, Germany: Edition Chimaira, 1999.

Zug, G. R., L. J. Vitt, and J. P. Caldwell. Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. San Diego: Academic Press, 2001.

Bossuyt, F., and M. C. Milinkovitch. "Convergent Adaptive Radiations in Madagascan and Asian Ranid Frogs Reveal Covariation Between Larval and Adult Traits." Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 97 (2000): 6585–6590.

Brown, W. C., and A. C. Alcala. "Philippine Frogs of the Family Rhacophoridae." Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 48 (1994): 185–220.

Channing, A. "A Re-evaluation of the Phylogeny of Old World Treefrogs." South African Journal of Zoology 24 (1989): 116–131.

Emerson, S. B., C. Richards, R. C. Drewes, and K. M. Kjer. "On the Relationships Among Ranoid Frogs: A Review of the Evidence." Herpetologica 56 (2000): 209–230.

Glaw, F., M. Vences, and W. Böhme. "Systematic Revision of the Genus Aglyptodactylus Boulenger, 1919 (Amphibia: Ranidae), and Analysis of Its Phylogenetic Relationships to Other Madagascan Ranid Genera (Tomopterna, Boophis, Mantidactylus, and Mantella)." Journal of Zoology, Systematics, and Evolutionary Research 36 (1998): 17–37.

Kaul, R., and V. H. Shoemaker. "Control of Thermoregulatory Evaporation in the Waterproof Treefrog Chiromantis xerampelina." Journal of Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry 158 (1989): 643–649.

Richards, C. M., and W. S. Moore. "A Molecular Phylogenetic Study of the Old World Treefrog Family Rhacophoridae." Herpetological Journal 8 (1998): 41–46.

Richards, C. M., R. A. Nussbaum, and C. J. Raxworthy. "Phylogenetic Relationships Within the Madagascan Boophids and Mantellids As Elucidated by Mitochondrial Ribosomal Genes." African Journal of Herpetology 49 (2000): 23–32.

Wassersug, R. J., K. J. Frogner, and R. F. Inger. "Adaptations for Life in Tree Holes by Rhacophorid Tadpoles from Thailand." Journal of Herpetology 15 (1981): 41–52.

[Article by: Jeffery Wilkinson, PhD]

Moss Frogs
Owston's Green Tree Frog (Rhacophorus owstoni)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Family: Rhacophoridae Hoffman, 1932
Sub-families
Buergeriinae Rhacophorinae

Moss Frogs are the members of the Rhacophoridae family; these frogs are found in tropical areas of Asia and Africa, including Japan and Madagascar (where they represent the largest frog group). Most of the species are arboreal, even laying their eggs in trees. Mating frogs, while in amplexus, hold onto a branch, and beat their legs to form a foam. The eggs are laid in the foam, and seminal fluid covers them. In some species, this is done in a large group. The foam is laid above a water source, so the tadpoles fall into the water once they hatch.

The species within this family vary in size, from 1.5 to 12 centimetres. As they are mostly arboreal, they have toe discs, and those of the genus Chirmantis have two opposable fingers on each hand. This family also contains the flying frog, for example: Wallace's flying frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus). These frogs have extensive webbing between their hands and feet, allowing them to glide through the air. ^[1]

References

1. ^ Sunny Shah and Rachna Tiwari (2001-11-29). Rhacophorus nigropalmatus, Wallace's Flying Frog. AmphibiaWeb. Retrieved on 2007-06-22. “Edited by Tate Tunstall (2003-04-12)”

• Cogger, H.G.; R.G. Zweifel, and D. Kirschner (2004). Encyclopedia of Reptiles & Amphibians Second Edition. Fog City Press. ISBN 1-877019-69-0. 

Chordata - Amphibia - Families of Anura

Allophrynidae - Amphignathodontidae - Arthroleptidae - Ascaphidae - Bombinatoridae - Brachycephalidae - Bufonidae - Centrolenidae - Dendrobatidae - Discoglossidae - Heleophrynidae - Hemisotidae - Hylidae - Hyperoliidae - Leiopelmatidae - Leptodactylidae - Mantellidae - Megophryidae - Microhylidae - Myobatrachidae - Nasikabatrachidae - Pelobatidae - Pelodytidae - Pipidae - Ranidae - Rhacophoridae - Rhinodermatidae - Rhinophrynidae - Scaphiopodidae - Sooglossidae

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)