Brevicipitidae
Brevicipitidae Bonaparte, 1850
Overview
Summary
Four genera are found in the Eastern Arc, including Breviceps, Probreviceps, Callulina, and Spelaeophryne. The latter two are endemic to the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. All have small narrow heads and short hind limbs. Males are typically much smaller than females and some species rely on a sticky substance produced by skin glands to glue themselves to females during mating. Females lay eggs in underground cavities and the eggs hatch directly into small frogs without a frees wimming tadpole phase (Text from Harper et al., 2010).
Rights holder(s): Zimkus, Breda - Comment (0)
Distribution
The family Brevicipitidae occurs only in eastern and southern sub-Saharan Africa.
Rights holder(s): Zimkus, Breda - Comment (0)
Taxonomic Notes
They were previously considered to be in the family Microhylidae, but genetic analyses suggest that they share a common ancestor and are more closely related to Hyperoliidae, Hemisotidae and Arthroleptidae.
Rights holder(s): Zimkus, Breda - Comment (0)
Taxonomic Children
Total: 5
Balebreviceps Largen and Drewes, 1989, Breviceps Merrem, 1820, Callulina Nieden, 1911, Probreviceps Parker, 1931, Spelaeophryne Ahl, 1924