Classification

Distinguishing taxonomic features

The superfamilies and families of the Anura are based on anatomical, developmental, and behavioral characteristics. Important anatomical features include the following: the type of vertebrae present, especially with respect to the articulating surfaces, which may be concave on the anterior end of each vertebra (procoelus) or on the posterior side (opisthocoelus) or on both ends (amphicoelus); the presence or absence of intercalary cartilages (between the terminal and penultimate bones of the digits); the state of the pectoral girdle (that is, whether it is firmisternal, with the cartilages of the two epicoracoid bones fused together, or arciferal, with these cartilages separate and overlapping); the presence or absence of an anterior projection, the omosternum, on the pectoral girdle; the presence or absence of teeth on the maxillary bone; and the presence or absence of Bidder’s organ (a rudimentary ovary) in the male. The type of egg and anatomy of the tadpole are often important features. The key behavioral characteristics are primarily those involved with reproduction, such as the type of amplexus and method of egg deposition.

Annotated classification

This classification is taken from Ford and Cannatella (1993), the most recent comprehensive classification of higher categories of anurans; extinct groups are not listed. The descriptions of each group are an amalgamation of recent views by various specialists, none of whom has surveyed the entire order. Bombinanura and Pipanura, as specified by Marjanović and Lauren (2007), are node-based names marking significant points of divergence within Anura, and Pipanura is nested within Bombinanura. Families Ascaphidae and Leiopelmatidae are not grouped with other Anuran families. A scanty record of meaningful fossils and inadequate knowledge of the morphology and mode of life history of many kinds of frogs result in inconclusive evidence for the classification of many families; consequently, the following classification must be considered to be tentative.

• Order Anura

  Amphibians lacking a tail in the adult stage; 5 to 9 presacral vertebrae; postsacral vertebrae (posterior to the pelvis) fused into a bony coccyx; hind limbs elongated, modified for jumping; fertilization normally external; eggs laid in water or not; an aquatic larval stage present in most; males usually with vocal cords, vocal sac (resonating chamber), and a voice; about 7,300 living species.

  • Family Ascaphidae (tailed frogs)

    9 presacral vertebrae (i.e., anterior to the pelvic girdle); parahyoid and caudaliopuboischiotibialis (“tail-wagging”) muscles present; stream-adapted tadpoles; northwestern North America; 1 genus (Ascaphus), 2 species; adult length about 5 cm (2 inches).

  • Family Leiopelmatidae

    9 presacral vertebrae (i.e., anterior to the pelvic girdle); parahyoid and caudaliopuboischiotibialis (“tail-wagging”) muscles present; direct development; New Zealand; 1 genus (Leiopelma), 4 species; adult length about 5 cm (2 inches).

  • Bombinanura

    • Family Bombinatoridae

    • Family Discoglossidae (midwife toads)

      Eocene (55.8 million–33.9 million years ago) to present; usually 8 presacral vertebrae; parahyoid tongue muscle and caudalipuboischiotibialis muscle absent; still-water tadpoles; Eurasia, North Africa, and Philippines; 4 genera, 16 species; adult length to about 10 cm (4 inches).

  • Pipanura

    • Suborder Mesobatrachia

      • Superfamily Pipoidea

        Vertebrae opisthocoelous; pectoral girdle arciferal; ribs absent or fused to transverse processes of vertebrae; amplexus inguinal; larvae with paired spiracles and simple mouthparts or with direct development.

        • Family Rhinophrynidae (burrowing toad)

          Oligocene (33.9 million–23.03 million years ago) to present; 8 presacral vertebrae; ribs absent; coccyx free, with 2 articulating surfaces; tongue free and protrusible; body robust; burrowing; aquatic larvae present; Mexico and Central America; 1 species; adult length to about 7 cm (3 inches).

        • Family Pipidae (tongueless frogs)

          Cretaceous (145.5 million–65.5 million years ago) to present; 6 to 8 presacral vertebrae; ribs present and free in larvae, but fused to transverse processes of vertebrae in adults; coccyx fused to sacrum or free and monocondylar (i.e., with 1 articulation); tongue absent; body flattened; aquatic, direct development or aquatic larvae present; Africa south of Sahara and tropical South America east of Andes; 5 genera, 27 species; adult length 5–20 cm (2–8 inches).

      • Superfamily Pelobatoidea

        Vertebrae procoelous with labile centra; pectoral girdle arciferal; ribs absent; amplexus inguinal; larvae with single spiracle on the left and with complex mouthparts.

        • Family Megophryidae (South Asian frogs)

        • Family Pelobatidae (spadefoots)

          Late Cretaceous to present; 8 presacral vertebrae; coccyx fused to sacrum or free and monocondylar; 9 genera, 88 species; adult length 4 to about 15 cm (1.5 to about 6 inches); 2 subfamilies: Megophryidae (Southeast Asia, Indo-Australian archipelago, Philippines) and Pelobatinae (Europe and North America).

        • Family Pelodytidae

          Eocene to present; 8 presacral vertebrae; coccyx free, bicondylar; astragalus and calcaneum fused; western Europe and southwestern Asia; 1 genus, 2 species.

    • Suborder Neobatrachia

      • Superfamily Bufonoidea

        Vertebrae procoelous; pectoral girdle arciferal (in some, secondarily firmisternal); ribs absent; amplexus axillary; larvae usually with single spiracle, on the left, and complex mouthparts or with direct development.

        • Family Allophrynidae

        • Family Brachycephalidae

          No fossil record; 7 presacral vertebrae, pectoral girdle partly firmisternal; intercalary cartilages and omosternum absent; Bidder’s organ present in Psyllophryne, absent in Brachycephalus; maxillary teeth present; direct development; southeastern Brazil; 2 genera, 2 species; adult length about 2 cm (1 inch).

        • Family Bufonidae (true toads)

          Paleocene (65.5 million–55.8 million years ago) to present; 5 to 8 presacral vertebrae; pectoral girdle arciferal or partly or even completely firmisternal; intercalary cartilages and omosternum absent; Bidder’s organ present; maxillary teeth present or absent; aquatic larvae, direct development, or live birth (Nectophrynoides only); worldwide, except the eastern part of the Indo-Australian archipelago, Polynesia, and Madagascar; Bufo marinus introduced into Australia and some Pacific islands; 27 genera, about 360 species; adult size 2 to about 25 cm (1 to 10 inches).

        • Family Centrolenidae

          No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae; pectoral girdle arciferal; intercalary cartilages present; omosternum absent; Bidder’s organ absent; maxillary teeth present; terminal phalanges T-shaped; astragalus and calcaneum bones of the foot fused; stream-adapted larvae; Central and South America; 3 genera, about 98 species; adult length 3–7.7 cm (1–3 inches).

        • Family Heleophrynidae

          No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae with cartilaginous intervertebral joints and a persistent notochord; larvae with large mouths lacking beaks; South Africa; 1 genus, 4 species; adult length 3.5–6.5 cm (1–3 inches).

        • Family Hylidae (tree frogs)

          Miocene (23 million–5.3 million years ago) to present; 8 presacral vertebrae; pectoral girdle arciferal; intercalary cartilages present; omosternum absent; Bidder’s organ absent; maxillary teeth usually present; terminal phalanges claw-shaped; astragalus and calcaneum not fused; aquatic larvae or direct development; 37 genera and 630 species; adult length 1.7 to about 14 cm (0.7 to 5.5 inches); 4 subfamilies: Pelodryadinae (Australo-Papuan region), Phyllomedusinae (Central and South America), Hemiphractinae (Central and South America), and Hylinae (North and South America, Europe, Asia except Indian subregion, and Africa north of Sahara).

        • Family Leptodactylidae

          Eocene to present; 8 presacral vertebrae; pectoral girdle arciferal; maxillary teeth present; Bidder’s organ and intercalary cartilages absent; omosternum cartilaginous or ossified; 49 genera, about 840 species; adult length 2 to about 20 cm (1 to 8 inches); 4 subfamilies: Ceratophryinae (South America), Telmatobiinae (South and Central America, West Indies), Hylodinae (South America), and Leptodactylinae (South America and Central America).

        • Family Myobatrachidae and Limnodynastidae

          Eocene to present; 8 presacral vertebrae; coccyx free, bicondylar; 21 genera, 110 species; adult length to about 10 cm (4 inches); 2 subfamilies: Limnodynastinae (New Guinea and Australia) and Myobatrachinae (New Guinea and Australia).

        • Family Pseudidae

          No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae; sacral diapophyses round; pectoral girdle arciferal; intercalary cartilages present, ossified; omosternum present; Bidder’s organ absent; maxillary teeth present; aquatic larvae (which grow to a much larger size than the adult); South America east of Andes; 2 genera, 3 species; adult length 2–7 cm (1–3 inches), larval length to 25 cm (10 inches).

        • Family Rhinodermatidae

          No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae, 1st and 2nd fused; pectoral girdle partly firmisternal; maxillary teeth, intercalary cartilages, and Bidder’s organ absent; omosternum cartilaginous; southern South America; 2 species; adult length 2.5 cm (1 inch).

        • Family Sooglossidae

          No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae; vertebrae procoelous; sacral diapophyses dilated; intercalary cartilages absent; larvae lacking spiracle; Seychelles; 2 genera, 3 species; length about 4 cm (1.5 inches).

      • Superfamily Ranoidea

        Pectoral girdle firmisternal; ribs absent; amplexus axillary; larvae with single sinistral spiracle and complex mouthparts or undergoing direct development.

        • Family Arthroleptidae

          No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae; vertebral column procoelous with Presacral VIII (biconcave); aquatic larvae or direct development; 7 genera, 74 species; adult size 1.5–13 cm (0.5–5 inches); 2 subfamilies: Arthroleptinae (Africa) and Astylosterninae (Africa).

        • Family Dendrobatidae (poison frogs)

          No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae; pectoral girdle completely firmisternal; intercalary cartilages absent; omosternum present; Bidder’s organ absent; maxillary teeth present or absent. Larvae carried on backs of adults; Central and South America; 9 genera, about 162 species; adult length 1.5–5 cm (0.5–2 inches).

        • Family Hemisotidae

          No fossil record; 7 presacral vertebrae; vertebral procoelous with Presacrals I and II fused; body globular with pointed snout; inner metatarsal tubercle large and spadelike; aquatic larvae; 1 genus, 8 species; adult size 4–8 cm (1.5–3 inches); Africa.

        • Family Hyperoliidae

          No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae; vertebral column procoelous with Presacral VIII usually biconcave; intercalary cartilages present; 3 or 4 tarsals; aquatic larvae; 19 genera, 226 species; adult size 1.5–8.7 cm (0.5–3 inches); 4 subfamilies: Hyperoliinae (Africa and Madagascar), Kassininae (Africa), Leptopelinae (Africa), and Tachycneminae (Seychelles).

        • Family Mantellidae

          No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae; vertebral column procoelous; intercalary cartilages present; 3 tarsals; aquatic larvae; 3 genera, 61 species; adult size 2–12 cm (1–5 inches). Madagascar.

        • Family Microhylidae

          Miocene to present; 8 presacral vertebrae; vertebrae procoelous or diplasiocoelous; intercalary cartilages usually absent; larvae lacking beaks and denticles (except otophrynines and scaphiophrynines) or undergoing direct development; 66 genera, 306 species; 10 subfamilies: Cophylinae (Madagascar), Dyscophinae (Madagascar), Scaphiophryninae (Madagascar), Asterophryinae (New Guinea and Sulu Archipelago), Genyophryninae (Philippines, eastern Indo-Australian archipelago, New Guinea, northern Australia), Brevicipitinae (Africa), Microhylinae (North and South America, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, western Indo-Australian archipelago, Philippines, and Ryukyu Islands), Melanobatrachinae (east-central Africa, India), Phrynomerinae (Africa), and Otophryninae (South America).

        • Family Ranidae (true frogs)

          Miocene to present; 8 presacral vertebrae; vertebral column diplasiocoelous (mixed amphicoelous and procoelous); intercalary cartilages present or absent; larvae with single spiracle, on left, and complex mouthparts; 39 genera and about 600 species; adult length about 2–25 cm (1–10 inches); 2 subfamilies: Raninae (worldwide except for southern South America, southern and central Australia, New Zealand, and eastern Polynesia) and Petropedetinae (Africa).

        • Family Rhacophoridae

          No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae; vertebral column procoelous with Presacral VIII biconcave; intercalary cartilages present; 2 tarsals; aquatic larvae; 10 genera, 203 species; adult size 1.5–12 cm (0.5–5 inches); 2 subfamilies: Buergeriinae (Taiwan and Japan) and Rhacophorinae (Africa, Madagascar, and tropical Asia from India to the Greater Sunda Islands and Philippines).

Critical appraisal

Modern authorities do not agree on all aspects of anuran classification, and further study is needed to clarify the relationships of certain groups. As a result of unfolding DNA evidence and a continuing transition from a strictly Linnean system to one based on cladistics, the most up-to-date classification of anurans was established by Ford and Cannatella in 1993. At the higher levels, this classification uses node-based names to indicate points of evolutionary divergence between one group and another. This classification differs from a widely used system developed by G.K. Noble in 1931, in which five suborders were recognized, based on vertebral characteristics. The superfamilies given above are not exactly equivalent to the suborders of Noble, the following modifications being most noteworthy: (1) The names Ascaphidae and Leiopelmatidae have been used interchangeably and recognized as distinct by various authorities. (2) The family Myobatrachidae and Limnodynastidae includes what were formerly recognized as Old World members of the Leptodactylidae, a family now considered restricted to the New World. (3) The Brachycephalidae, as recognized by Noble, included the dendrobatids and the peculiar mouth-brooding frog (Rhinoderma), now considered distinct families, as well as several genera (e.g., Atelopus) currently placed in the Bufonidae. Most authorities now restrict the family Brachycephalidae to two genera, Brachycephalus and Psyllophryne. (4) The family Atelopodidae (sometimes spelled Atelopidae) of many authors is now relegated to the Bufonidae. (5) Rhinoderma, which other authors have placed in the Atelopodidae, Leptodactylidae, and Bufonidae, is now given family status. (6) Ford and Cannatella place this family in the superfamily Ranoidea.