Brachycephalidae

The Brachycephalidae (/ˌbrækɪsɪˈfælɪdi/) are a family of frogs confined to eastern and southern Brazil and northern Argentina.[1] The family is composed of two externally quite different genera: the tiny, often (but not always) colourful and plump saddleback toads (Brachycephalus) from Brazil, and the larger, slimmer and more drab genus Ischnocnema from both Brazil and Argentina. The family is mainly defined by molecular characteristics, and are linked by few anatomical features.[2] It was erected from two genera of the previously large family Eleutherodactylidae, which is now split into four families.[3]

Brachycephalidae
Brachycephalus ephippium (above), Ischnocnema izecksohni (below)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Superfamily:	Brachycephaloidea
Family:	Brachycephalidae Günther, 1858
Type genus
Brachycephalus Fitzinger, 1826
Genera
Brachycephalus Fitzinger, 1826 Ischnocnema Reinhardt and Lütken, 1862
Synonyms[1]
Brachycephalina Günther, 1858

The Brachycephalidae all have direct development and hatch like miniature adults rather than as tadpoles like most frogs. The members of the genus Brachycephalus are all very diminutive animals, with many species under 1 cm (0.4 in) in snout–to–vent length.[4]

References

1. Frost, Darrel R. (2020). "Brachycephalidae Günther, 1858". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
2. "Brachycephalidae". AmphibiaWeb. University of Berkley. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
3. Hedges, S. B.; Duellman, W. E. & Heinicke, M. P. (2008). "New World direct-developing frogs (Anura: Terrarana): Molecular phylogeny, classification, biogeography, and conservation" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1737: 1–182.
4. Zweifel, Richard G. (1998). Cogger, H.G.; Zweifel, R.G. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 103. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.