Pyxicephalidae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pyxicephalidae |
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| Pyxicephalus adspersus | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Clade: | Ranoidea |
| Family: | Pyxicephalidae Bonaparte, 1850 |
| Subfamilies | |
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Pyxicephalidae (say "Pix-ee-sef-AL-ih-day") is a family of frogs. These frogs are found only in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is the part of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. They are a unique group within the amphibian world.
Contents
What Are Pyxicephalidae Frogs?
Pyxicephalidae is a scientific grouping for certain types of frogs. Think of it like a big family tree for animals. This family includes many different kinds of frogs, all sharing some common features. They were once thought to be part of another frog family called Ranidae, but scientists later decided they were different enough to have their own family.
Where Do Pyxicephalidae Frogs Live?
These frogs are native to Africa. You can find them across many different countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. This area has a wide range of habitats, from grasslands to forests, where these frogs can thrive.
How Are Pyxicephalidae Frogs Grouped?
Within the Pyxicephalidae family, scientists divide them into smaller groups called subfamilies. There are two main subfamilies:
- Cacosterninae: This subfamily has 10 different groups of frogs, called genera.
- Pyxicephalinae: This subfamily has 2 different genera.
Each genus then contains different species of frogs. For example, the famous African bullfrog belongs to the Pyxicephalinae subfamily.
Types of Pyxicephalidae Frogs
Here are some of the genera (groups) found in this frog family:
- Cacosterninae Subfamily:
- Amietia (15 species)
- Anhydrophryne (3 species)
- Arthroleptella (3 species) – These are often called Moss frogs.
- Cacosternum (12 species)
- Ericabatrachus (1 species)
- Microbatrachella (1 species) – This includes the tiny Micro frog.
- Natalobatrachus (1 species)
- Nothophryne (1 species)
- Poyntonia (1 species)
- Strongylopus (10 species)
- Tomopterna (11 species)
- Pyxicephalinae Subfamily:
- Aubria (2 species) – These include frogs like the Masako fishing frog.
- Pyxicephalus (3 species) – This group includes the well-known African bullfrogs, also called pixie frogs.
