The Scaphiophryninae are a
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 botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...
of
microhylid
The Microhylidae, commonly known as narrow-mouthed frogs, are a geographically widespread family of frogs. The 683 species are in 57 genera and 11 subfamilies.
Evolution
A molecular phylogenetic study by van der Meijden, et al. (2007) has estima ...
frog
A frog is any member of a diverse and largely semiaquatic group of short-bodied, tailless amphibian vertebrates composing the order (biology), order Anura (coming from the Ancient Greek , literally 'without tail'). Frog species with rough ski ...
s native to
Madagascar
Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...
.
Description
Scaphiophryninae are small to middle-sized frogs, measuring in snout–vent length. They are terrestrial. Species living in drier environments are burrowers that emerge at the start of the rainy season. However, at least ''
Scaphiophryne gottlebei'' is also able to climb vertical rock faces. Breeding is explosive and takes place in temporary pools. Eggs float on the surface and hatch into free-living
tadpole
A tadpole or polliwog (also spelled pollywog) is the Larva, larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully Aquatic animal, aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial animal, ...
s.
[
]
Genera
Scaphiophryninae contains two genera.
References
Microhylidae
Endemic fauna of Madagascar
Taxa named by Raymond Laurent
Amphibian subfamilies
{{Microhylidae-stub