Discoglossidae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Discoglossidae |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Alytes obstetricans | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Subphylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Subclass: | |
| Superorder: |
Batrachia
|
| Order: | |
| Suborder: | |
| Family: |
Discoglossidae
Günther, 1859
|
| Genera | |
|
Genus Alytes |
|
 |
|
| Distribution of Discoglossidae (in black) | |
The Alytidae are a group of ancient frogs. They are often called painted frogs or midwife toads. Most of these frogs live only in Europe. You can also find a few species in northwest Africa. One special species was even found again in Israel after people thought it had disappeared!
Contents
What's in a Name?
You might hear these frogs called by two names: Alytidae or Discoglossidae. The name Alytidae is older, so it's usually the one used by scientists today. However, some scientists think that the Alytes and Discoglossus groups are different enough. They suggest that these two groups should be in their own separate families.
Kinds of Painted Frogs
This frog family includes three main groups, called genera (plural of genus). These are Alytes, Discoglossus, and Latonia.
- Midwife Toads (Alytes): These frogs look a bit like toads. They often live on land.
- Painted Frogs (Discoglossus): These frogs have smoother skin and look more like typical frogs. They prefer to live in water.
- Hula Painted Frog (Latonia): This group was thought to be extinct, meaning all of them had died out. But recently, a species called the Hula painted frog was rediscovered! This was very exciting news for scientists.
All the species in these groups have tadpoles that live in ponds.
Species in the Family
Here are some of the species found in the Discoglossidae family:
Genus Alytes (Midwife Toads)
- Alytes cisternasii - Iberian Midwife Toad
- Alytes dickhilleni - Southern Midwife Toad
- Alytes maurus - Moroccan Midwife Toad
- Alytes muletensis - Majorcan Midwife Toad
- Alytes obstetricans - Common Midwife Toad
Genus Discoglossus (Painted Frogs)
- Discoglossus galganoi - West Iberian Painted Frog
- Discoglossus jeanneae - Spanish Painted Frog
- Discoglossus montalenti - Corsican Painted Frog
- Discoglossus nigriventer - Israel Painted Frog
- Discoglossus pictus - Common Painted Frog
- Discoglossus sardus - Tyrrhenian Painted Frog
Prehistoric Species
- Genus †Enneabatrachus (prehistoric)
- †Enneabatrachus hechti
Images for kids
-
Iberian midwife toad (Alytes cisternasii)
-
Iberian or Portuguese painted frog (Discoglossus galganoi)
-
Fossil discoglossid from Miocene (†Latonia seyfriedi)
See also
In Spanish: Ranas pintadas para niños
