Narrow-mouthed frogs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MicrohylidaeTemporal range: early Miocene to Recent
24–0 mya |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Eastern narrowmouth toad (Gastrophryne) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Suborder: | |
| Family: |
Microhylidae
Günther, 1858
|
 |
|
| Distribution of Microhylidae (in black) | |
The Microhylidae is a large family of frogs. These frogs are found all over the world, especially in warm, tropical places. There are 495 different kinds, or species, of Microhylidae frogs. They belong to 68 different groups called genera. This makes them the frog family with the most different types of groups!
Contents
What Microhylidae Frogs Look Like
As their name suggests, most Microhylidae frogs are quite small. Many species are even shorter than 1.5 centimeters (about half an inch)! However, some can grow much bigger, up to 9 centimeters (about 3.5 inches).
These frogs live in different places. Some live high up in trees, while others live on the ground. You might even find some living near water. The frogs that live on the ground are often found hiding under piles of leaves in forests. They sometimes come out at night to hunt for food.
Microhylidae frogs usually have two main body shapes. One shape is wide with a narrow mouth. The other shape looks more like a typical frog. Frogs with narrow mouths usually eat termites and ants. Frogs with normal proportions eat the same kinds of food as most other frogs.
How Microhylidae Frogs Reproduce
Some Microhylidae frogs, especially those in New Guinea and Australia, do not have a tadpole stage. This means they hatch directly into tiny frogs! Tree-dwelling species can lay their eggs in trees and never need to go down to the ground.
When these frogs do have tadpoles, their tadpoles are special. They almost never have the teeth or hard beaks that tadpoles from other frog families usually have.
Where Microhylidae Frogs Live
Microhylidae frogs live in many parts of the world. You can find them in tropical and warm areas of North America, South America, and Africa. They also live in eastern India, Sri Lanka, and throughout south-east Asia. You can also find them in New Guinea and Australia.
Most of these frogs prefer tropical or sub-tropical areas, which are warm and humid. However, a few species can live in dry or non-tropical places. They are the most common type of frog in places like New Guinea and Madagascar.
See also
In Spanish: Microhílidos para niños
