''Niceforonia'' is a genus of frogs in the family Strabomantidae found in northern South America (from central Peru to Ecuador and Colombia). The name refers to Nicéforo María, Colombian herpetologist.

Taxonomy

the genus ''Niceforonia'' was resurrected from the synonymy of '' Phrynopus'' by Hedges and colleagues in 2008. No genetic data exist, and Hedges ''et al.'' placed it provisionally in the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Strabomantinae along with the genera ''Phrynopus'', ''

Oreobates ''Oreobates'' is a genus of frogs in the family Strabomantidae. Most species were formerly in the genus ''Ischnocnema'', but were moved to this revalidated genus following a 2006 revision. Its sister taxon is '' Lynchius''. These frogs are found ...

'', and '' Lynchius'' with which it shares a synapomorphy. Based on genetic data from these three genera, Padial and colleagues moved them all into the subfamily Holoadeninae in 2014.

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus ''Niceforonia'': * ''

Niceforonia adenobrachia ''Niceforonia adenobrachia'' is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is Endemism, endemic to the Cordillera Central (Colombia), Cordillera Central, Colombia, in the Caldas Department, Caldas and Tolima Departments. ''Niceforonia ad ...

'' (Ardila-Robayo, Ruiz-Carranza, and Barrera-Rodriguez, 1996) * ''

Niceforonia aderca ''Niceforonia aderca'' is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to Colombia and only known from its type locality, Betulia, Santander, on the western flank of the Cordillera Oriental. It is only known from the holotype ...

'' (Lynch, 2003) * ''

Niceforonia araiodactyla ''Niceforonia araiodactyla'' is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae endemic to Peru. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characteri ...

'' (Duellman and Pramuk, 1999) * ''

Niceforonia babax ''Niceforonia babax'' is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae found in Colombia and Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forests. It is threatened by habitat loss ...

'' (Lynch, 1989) * ''

Niceforonia brunnea ''Niceforonia brunnea'', the Carchi Andes frog, is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae found in Colombia and Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss Habita ...

'' (Lynch, 1975) * ''

Niceforonia columbiana ''Niceforonia columbiana'' is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae, sometimes known as the Colombian Andes frog. It is endemic to Colombia. It is only known from the holotype, which is now lost. The type locality, "Monte Redondo, Buena ...

'' (Werner, 1899) * ''

Niceforonia dolops ''Niceforonia dolops'' is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in the Andes of southern Colombia and northern Ecuador. Specifically, it is known from the Cordillera Oriental and Colombian Massif in Caquetá and Putumayo D ...

'' (Lynch and Duellman, 1980) * ''

Niceforonia elassodiscus ''Niceforonia elassodiscus'' is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae found in Colombia and Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also t ...

'' (Lynch, 1973) * '' Niceforonia fallaciosa'' (Duellman, 2000) * '' Niceforonia latens'' (Lynch, 1989) * ''

Niceforonia lucida ''Niceforonia lucida'' is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to Peru and known from the Cordillera Central west of the Apurímac River in the Ayacucho Region. Common name Cannatella's Andes frog has been coined for it. ...

'' (Cannatella, 1984) * '' Niceforonia mantipus'' (Boulenger, 1908) * ''

Niceforonia nana ''Niceforonia nana'' is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to the Cordillera Oriental, Colombia, and found at asl. This rare frog inhabits páramo grassland and montane forest, as well as secondary forest. It is pote ...

'' Goin and Cochran, 1963 * '' Niceforonia nigrovittata'' (Andersson, 1945) * ''

Niceforonia peraccai ''Niceforonia peraccai'' is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae that is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and subtropical or tro ...

'' (Lynch, 1975)

Description

Species of the genus ''Niceforonia'' are small frogs measuring up to in snout–vent length. The head is narrower than the body and the tympanic membrane is differentiated, but in some species only the tympanic annulus is visible under skin. The dorsum is smooth to weakly tuberculate, whereas the venter is smooth or areolate. The terminal discs on digits are not expanded but usually bear weak circumferential grooves. The terminal

phalanges The phalanges (singular: ''phalanx'' ) are digital bones in the hands and feet of most vertebrates. In primates, the thumbs and big toes have two phalanges while the other digits have three phalanges. The phalanges are classed as long bones. ...

are narrow and T-shaped. Toes III and V are about equal in length (the origin of the name ''Isodactylus'').

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q2831864, from2=Q1868660 Frogs of South America Amphibians of South America Amphibian genera Taxa named by Doris Mable Cochran