Family PELODRYADIDAE Günther, 1859

Museums

Regional Maps

• Pelodryadidae Günther, A. 1858. Catalogue of the Batrachia Salientia in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum xvi 160 pp. [119].

  Type genus:

   Pelodryas Günther, 1859.

Introduction

A large family of frogs found throughout most of the tropical and temperate regions of the world. Usually termed tree frogs because many species possess sticky discs on the tips of their fingers and toes which make them agile climbers. The family contains about 640 species in 40 genera of which 77 species and three genera occur in Australia.

Following from Duellman et al. (2016) and the Australian Society of Herpetologists (2023) we recognise Pelodryadidae for Australian frogs previously placed in the family Hylidae. (see also Frost et al. 2016).

Excluded Taxa

Other Excluded

HYLIDAE Rafinesque, 1815 [Australasian frogs of the genera Litoria and Cyclorana, previously placed in the Hylidae, are now placed in a separate family, Pelodryadidae. See Frost et al. (2006) and Duellman et al. (2016) and the Australian Society of Herpetologists (2023).] — Frost, D.R., Grant, T., Faivovich, J., Bain, R.H., Haas, A., Haddad, C.F.B., de Sá, R.O., Channing, A., Wilkinson, M., Donnellan, S.C., Raxworthy, C.J., Campbell, J.A., Blotto, B.L., Moler, P., Drewes, R.C., Nussbaum, R.A., Lynch, J.D., Green, D.M. & Wheeler, W.C. 2006. The amphibian tree of life. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 297: 1-370 + Fig. 50 foldout; Duellman, W.E., Marion, A.B. & Hedges, S.B. 2016. Phylogenetics, classification, and biogeography of the treefrogs (Amphibia: Anura: Arboranae). Zootaxa 4104(1): 1–109; Australian Society of Herpetologists 30 Nov, 2023. Australian Society of Herpetologists Official List of Australian Species. Australian Society of Herpetologists. https://www.australiansocietyofherpetologists.org/s/ASH-Official-Species-List-30-November-2023-Complete-Version-With-Comments-2crb.pdf

Diagnosis

Characterised in Australia by: arciferal pectoral girdle; intercalary cartilages usually present; finger and toe discs usually present, though sometimes very poorly developed; sacral diapophyses dilated; maxillary teeth present.

General References

Barker, J., Grigg, G. & Tyler, M. 1995. A Field Guide to Australian Frogs. Chipping Norton, NSW : Surrey Beatty & Sons 1995 edn xi, 407 pp.

Brattstrom, B.H. 1970. Thermal acclimation in Australian amphibians. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 35: 69-103

Cogger, H.G. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Sydney : Reed New Holland 6th edition, 808 pp.

Copland, S.J. 1957. Presidential address. Australian tree frogs of the genus Hyla. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 82: 9-108

Duellman, W.E., Marion, A.B. & Hedges, S.B. 2016. Phylogenetics, classification, and biogeography of the treefrogs (Amphibia: Anura: Arboranae). Zootaxa 4104(1): 1–109

Frost, D.R., Grant, T., Faivovich, J., Bain, R.H., Haas, A., Haddad, C.F.B., de Sá, R.O., Channing, A., Wilkinson, M., Donnellan, S.C., Raxworthy, C.J., Campbell, J.A., Blotto, B.L., Moler, P., Drewes, R.C., Nussbaum, R.A., Lynch, J.D., Green, D.M. & Wheeler, W.C. 2006. The amphibian tree of life. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 297: 1-370 + Fig. 50 foldout [65, 130, 204]

Frost, D.R. (ed.) 1985. Amphibian Species of the World; a taxonomic and geographical reference. Lawrence, Kansas : Allen Press & Assoc. Systematics Collections v 732 pp.

Glasby, C.J., Ross, G.J.B. & Beesley, P.L. (eds) 1993. Fauna of Australia: Amphibia and Reptilia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 2A vii 439 pp.

Tyler, M.J. 1970. Patterns of distribution and the origins of the Papuan hylid frog fauna. Search 1: 246-247

Tyler, M.J. 1999. Australian Frogs. Sydney : Reed New Holland pp. 1-192.

History of changes