Family MICROHYLIDAE Günther, 1858

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Introduction

A family of frogs occurring throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world and containing about 250 species in 54 genera. Australia's two genera and 18 species are members of the Papuan regional subfamily Sphenophryinae, and most are restricted to the wet forests of north-eastern Queensland. Two species occur in drier monsoonal forests and swamps: one in Cape York and the other in Arnhem Land.

Diagnosis

Characterised in Australia by: firmisternal pectoral girdle; intercalary cartilages absent; tips of fingers and toes with or without expanded pads, but with lateral grooves; sacral diapophyses dilated; maxillary teeth usually absent; toes not webbed; no dorso-lateral skin fold.

General References

Anstis, M., FRED Parker, F., Hawkes, T., Morris, I. & Richards, S.J 2011. Direct development in some Australopapuan microhylid frogs of the genera Austrochaperina, Cophixalus and Oreophryne (Anura: Microhylidae) from northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. Zootaxa 3052: 1–50

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

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

Parker, H.W. 1934. A Monograph of the Frogs of the Family Microhylidae. London : British Museum viii 208 pp.

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

Zweifel, R.G. 1985. Australian frogs of the family Microhylidae. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 182(3): 265-388

Zweifel, R.G. 2000. Partition of the Australopapuan microhylid frog genus Sphenophryne with descriptions of new species. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 253: 1-130

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