Brachycephalidae
EOL Text
This small group of tiny frogs is found in forests of southeastern Brazil. The Gold Frog (Brachycephalus ephippium) is the best known member of this family, and is distinctive because of its color and possession of bony dorsal shields that are fused to the vertebrae. However, other populations of Brachycephalus (currently synonymized) have less ossification. With a snout-vent length of only 9.8 mm, Psyllophryne didactyla is one of the world's smallest amphibians. Both genera exhibit reduction of the number of digits. The two genera are united by the absence of a sternum. There are no fossil brachycephalids.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | David Cannatella, Tree of Life web project |
| Source | http://tolweb.org/Brachycephalidae/16940 |
The distribution of living members of the family Brachycephalidae is indicated in red.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | David Cannatella, Tree of Life web project |
| Source | http://tolweb.org/Brachycephalidae/16940 |
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
| Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Brachycephalidae/ |
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
| Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Brachycephalidae/ |
Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
| Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Brachycephalidae/ |
- Brachycephalidae
- Brachycephalus ephippium
- Psyllophryne didactyla
from Frost (1985)
Ford and Cannatella (1993) defined Brachycephalidae to be the most recent common ancestor of Brachycephalus and Psyllophryne, and all its descendants. Synapomorphies include the absence of a sternum, digital reduction, and complete ossification of epicoracoid cartilages with coracoids and clavicles (data from Izecksohn, 1971).
Brachycephalids have always been considered to be neobatrachians. A photo in Halliday and Adler (1986:38-39) shows Brachycephalus ephippium in inguinal amplexus, a behavior that is rare in Neobatrachia (Nussbaum, 1980).
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | David Cannatella, Tree of Life web project |
| Source | http://tolweb.org/Brachycephalidae/16940 |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
Specimen Records:202
Specimens with Sequences:245
Specimens with Barcodes:190
Species:35
Species With Barcodes:35
Public Records:3
Public Species:3
Public BINs:3