Ranoidea (superfamily) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ranoidea (superfamily) |
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| Common frog, Rana temporaria | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Suborder: | Neobatrachia |
| Clade: | Ranoidea |
| Families | |
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The Ranoidea are a very large group of frogs. They are called a "superfamily" because they include many different families of frogs. These frogs have a special bone in their chest that is fused together. They also do not have ribs. When male and female frogs of this group mate, the male holds onto the female from her armpit area.
Baby frogs, called tadpoles, usually have one breathing hole on their left side. Their mouths are also quite complex. However, some Ranoidea frogs do not have tadpoles at all. Instead, small frogs hatch directly from the eggs. Scientists who study amphibians sometimes change their minds about how these frogs are related. This often happens when new information is discovered.
This superfamily includes seventeen different frog families. Each family has at least two species, and some have more than 300 different kinds of frogs!
Exploring Ranoidea Frog Families
Let's learn about some of the interesting frog families that belong to the Ranoidea superfamily. These families are grouped based on how scientists understand their relationships.
Ranixalidae: Leaping Frogs of India
The Ranixalidae family is known as the Leaping Frogs. This family has one group, or genus, with 10 different species. They live in central and southern India. You can find them in leaf litter on the forest floor. They also live in tropical deciduous forests near streams. These frogs are found at heights between 200 meters and 1100 meters above sea level.
Mantellidae: Malagasy Poison Frogs
The Mantellidae family is called the Malagasy Poison Frogs. This family has 3 different groups and a total of 191 species. They live on the island of Madagascar and Mayotte Island. Some of these frogs live on the ground, while others are tree frogs. They are usually found between 800 and 1000 meters above sea level.
Rhacophoridae: Afroasian Tree Frogs
The Rhacophoridae family is known as the Afroasian Tree Frogs. This family has two main subgroups, 14 different groups, and 321 species in total. They live in parts of Africa south of the Sahara Desert, Madagascar, and South Asia. Most of these frogs live in trees.
Pyxicephalidae: African Bullfrogs
The Pyxicephalidae family includes the African Bullfrogs. It has two main subgroups, 13 different groups, and 68 species. These frogs live in Sub-Saharan Africa. The two subgroups are very different from each other. One group, called Cacosternine frogs, are small and thin. They live on the ground or in and near water. The other group, Pyxicephaline frogs, are large and look like bullfrogs. They have thick bodies and special fang-like bones on their lower jaws. They use these bones to crush their prey.
Petropedetidae: African Water Frogs and Goliath Frog
The Petropedetidae family includes African Water Frogs. It has two groups with 18 different species. They live in Sub-Saharan Africa. This family is special because it includes the world's largest living frog, the Conraua goliath.
Ptychadenidae: Grassland Frogs
The Ptychadenidae family is known as the Grassland Frogs. It has 3 groups with 53 different species. They live in sub-Saharan Africa. As their name suggests, they live in grasslands and savannas. They have slender bodies with long arms and legs, which help them move through the grass.
Ceratobatrachidae: Triangle Frogs
The Ceratobatrachidae family is called the Triangle Frogs. It has 5 groups with 84 different species. They live in Malaysia, the Philippines, Borneo, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Most of these frogs have very angular bodies and are small to medium-sized. They live in the forests.
Brevicipitidae: Rain Frogs
The Brevicipitidae family is known as the Rain Frogs. It has 5 groups with 31 species. They live in the southeast part of Africa. These frogs are usually small with round bodies. When they feel threatened, they can inflate themselves, making their bodies even rounder!
Images for kids
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A family tree showing how Ranoidea frogs are related to other frogs.
