Hylidae

Taxobox
name = Hylidae
fossil_range = Fossil range|57|0 Paleocene – recent

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = Red-eyed Tree Frog, "Agalychnis callidryas"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Anura
familia = Hylidae
familia_authority = Rafinesque, 1815
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = See text.
range_

range_map_width = 250px
range_map_caption = Distribution of Hylidae (in black)

Hylidae are a family of frogs with tree dwelling adaptations, and include several species commonly called "treefrogs and their allies". However, the hylids include a diversity of frog species, many of which do not live in trees, but are terrestrial or semi-aquatic.

Characteristics

Most hylids show adaptations suitable for an arboreal lifestyle, including forward-facing eyes providing binocular vision, and adhesive pads on the fingers and toes. In the non-arboreal species, these features may be greatly reduced, or absent. The "Cyclorana" species are burrowing frogs, that spend much of their lives underground.cite book |editor=Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.|author= Zweifel, Robert G.|year=1998|title=Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians|publisher= Academic Press|location=San Diego|pages= 93-94|isbn= 0-12-178560-2]

Hylids mostly feed on insects and other invertebrates, but some larger species can feed on small vertebrates.

Hylids lay their eggs in a range of different locations, depending on species. Many use ponds, or puddles that collect in the holes of their trees, while others use bromeliads or other water-holding plants. Other species lay their eggs on the leaves of vegetation overhanging water, allowing the tadpoles to drop into the pond when they hatch.

A few species use fast-flowing streams, attaching the eggs firmly to the substrate. The tadpoles of these species have suckers enabling them to hold onto rocks after they hatch. Another unusual adaptation is found in some South American hylids, which brood the eggs on the back of the female, with "Hemiphractus" species going as far as to enclose the eggs in a pouch until they hatch. The tadpoles of most hylid species have laterally placed eyes, and broad tails with a narrow, filamentous, tip.

Type species

The European tree frog, "Hyla arborea", is common in the middle and south of North America, and range into Asia and North Africa. The species become very noisy on the approach of rain and are sometimes kept in confinement as a kind of barometer.

In North America, there are many species of the Hylidae family, including "Hyla versicolor" (the grey tree frog) and "Hyla cinerea" (the American green tree frog). The spring peeper ("Pseudacris crucifer") is also widespread in the eastern United States and is commonly heard on summer and spring evenings.

"Tree frog" is a popular name for several of the "Hylidae". "Hyla versicolor" is the changeable tree frog, "Trachycephalus lichenatus" is the lichened tree frog, and "Trachycephalus marmoratus" the marbled tree frog. However, the name "treefrog" is not unique to this family, also being used for many species of the Rhacophoridae.

Taxonomy

The Hylidae family is divided into the following subfamilies and genera:;Hylidae Multicol
* Subfamily Pelodryadinae (Austro-Papuan tree frogs)
** "Litoria"
* Subfamily Phyllomedusinae (Leaf frogs)
** "Agalychnis"
** "Cruziohyla"
** "Hylomantis" - Rough Leaf Frogs
** "Pachymedusa" - Mexican Leaf Frogs
** "Phasmahyla" - Shining Leaf Frogs
** "Phrynomedusa" - Colored Leaf Frogs
** "Phyllomedusa"
* Subfamily Hemiphractinae
** "Cryptobatrachus" - Backpack Frogs
** "Flectonotus" - Brazilian Treefrogs
** "Gastrotheca" - Marsupial Frogs
** "Hemiphractus" - Horned Treefrogs
** "Stefania" Multicol-break
* Subfamily Hylinae
** "Acris" - Cricket Frogs
** "Anotheca" - Spiny-headed Treefrogs
** "Aparasphenodon" - Casque-headed Frogs
** "Aplastodiscus" - Canebreak Treefrogs
** "Argenteohyla" - Argentinian Frogs
** "Bokermannohyla"
** "Bromeliohyla"
** "Charadrahyla"
** "Corythomantis" - Greening's Frogs
** "Dendropsophus"
** "Duellmanohyla" - Brook Frogs
** "Ecnomiohyla"
** "Exerodonta"
** "Hyla" - Common Treefrogs
** "Hyloscirtus"
** "Hypsiboas" - Gladiator Frogs
** "Isthmohyla"
** "Itapotihyla"
** "Lysapsus"
** "Megastomatohyla"
** "Myersiohyla"
** "Nyctimantis" - Brown-eyed Treefrogs
** "Osteocephalus" - Slender-legged Treefrogs
** "Osteopilus" - Cuban Treefrogs
** "Phyllodytes" - Heart-tongued Frogs
** "Plectrohyla" - Spike-thumb Frogs
** "Pseudacris" - Chorus Frogs
** "Pseudis" - Swimming Frogs
** "Ptychohyla" - Stream Frogs
** "Scarthyla" - Madre de Dios Treefrogs
** "Scinax" - Snouted Treefrogs
** "Smilisca" - Burrowing Frogs
** "Sphaenorhynchus" - Lime Treefrogs
** "Tepuihyla" - Amazon Treefrogs
** "Tlalocohyla"
** "Trachycephalus" - Casque-headed Treefrogs
** "Triprion" - Shovel-headed Treefrogs
** "Xenohyla"

References

* "This article incorporates text from the "Collier's New Encyclopedia" (1921)."

External links

* [http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.php Amphibian Species of the World]