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Sooglossidae

(Family)

Overview

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The Seychelles frogs (Sooglossidae) are a family of frogs found on the Seychelles Islands and India. Until recently this family was believed to include the genera Nesomantis and Sooglossus, but following a major revision of amphibians in 20061] the genus Nesomantis was named a junior synonym of Sooglossus; conversely, the recently-discovered purple frog which was initially assigned to a distinct monotypic family (Nasikabatrachidae) is now included in the Sooglossidae.[2]

All of the species are relatively small terrestrial frogs, about 4 centimetres (1.6 in) in length, hiding under fallen leaves or in rock crevices. They are unusual for the Neobatrachials, in that they undertaking inguinal amplexus, a primitive version of amplexus. They lay their eggs on moist ground, rather than in water. One species lacks tadpoles, with the eggs hatching directly into froglets, while the others carry the tadpoles on their back until metamorphosis.[3]

There is no fossil record for the family. Ancestors diverged when the Seychelles Islands split from India about 100 million years BCE.

Taxonomy

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The family was first described in 1931 by Gladwyn Kingsley Noble (1894?1940).

xus. They lay their eggs on moist ground, rather than in water. One spe cies lacks tadpoles, with the eggs hatching directly into froglets, while the others carry the tadpoles on their back until metamorphosis.[3]

There is no fossil record for the family. Ancestors diverged when the Seychelles Islands split from India about 100 million years BCE.

Taxonomy

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The family was first described in 1931 by Gladwyn Kingsley Noble (1894?1940).

References

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  1. ^ http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/5781/1/B297.pdf
  2. ^ Frost, Darrel R. 2006. Amphibian Species of the World: an online reference. Version 4.0 (17 August 2006). Electronic Database accessible at [1]. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA.
  3. ^ Zweifel, Richard G. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 104?105. ISBN 0-12-178560-2. 

Taxonomy

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The Family Sooglossidae is a member of the Superfamily Bufonoidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Sooglossidae:

The Family Sooglossidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Nesomantis

The Thomasset's Seychelles Frog (Nesomantis thomasseti) is a species of in the Sooglossidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Nesomantis. It is endemic to Seychelles. [more]

Sechellophryne

Sooglossus

The Seychelles Frogs (Sooglossidae) are a family of frogs found on the Seychelles Islands and India. Until recently this family was believed to include the genera Nesomantis and Sooglossus, but following a major revision of amphibians in 2006 the genus Nesomantis was named a junior synonym of Sooglossus; conversely, the recently-discovered Purple Frog which was initially assigned to a distinct monotypic family (Nasikabatrachidae) is now included in the Sooglossidae. [more]

At least 5 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Sooglossus.

More info about the Genus Sooglossus may be found here.

References

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  1. ^ http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/5781/1/B297.pdf
  2. ^ Frost, Darrel R. 2006. Amphibian Species of the World: an online reference. Version 4.0 (17 August 2006). Electronic Database accessible at [1]. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA.
  3. ^ Zweifel, Richard G. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 104?105. ISBN 0-12-178560-2. 

Sources

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Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 13:43:14