Hylidae is a wide-ranging

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

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 commonly referred to as "

tree frog A tree frog (or treefrog) is any species of frog that spends a major portion of its lifespan in trees, known as an arboreal state. Several lineages of frogs among the Neobatrachia suborder have given rise to treefrogs, although they are not clos ...

s and their allies". However, the hylids include a diversity of frog species, many of which do not live in trees, but are

terrestrial Terrestrial refers to things related to land or the planet Earth, as opposed to extraterrestrial. Terrestrial may also refer to: * Terrestrial animal, an animal that lives on land opposed to living in water, or sometimes an animal that lives on o ...

or semiaquatic.

Taxonomy and systematics

The earliest known fossils that can be assigned to this family are from the

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...

of India and the state of

Wyoming Wyoming ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States, Western United States. It borders Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho t ...

in the United States. The common name of "tree frog" is a popular name for several species of the family Hylidae. However, the name "treefrog" is not unique to this family, also being used for many species in the family

Rhacophoridae The Rhacophoridae are a family of frogs in tropical sub-Saharan Africa, South India and Sri Lanka, Japan, northeastern India to eastern China and Taiwan, south through the Philippines and Greater Sundas, and Sulawesi. They are commonly known as ...

. The following genera are recognised in the family Hylidae: * Subfamily

Hylinae Hylinae is a large subfamily of "tree frogs", family Hylidae. Classification The contents of this subfamily vary substantially according to the source. The Amphibian Species of the World follows the revision by Duellman and colleagues from 201 ...

** Tribe Cophomantini *** '' Aplastodiscus'' – canebrake treefrogs *** ''

Boana ''Boana'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. They are commonly known as gladiator frogs, gladiator treefrogs or Wagler Neotropical treefrogs. These frogs are distributed in the tropical Central and South America from Nicaragua to Argent ...

'' – gladiator treefrogs *** ''

Bokermannohyla ''Bokermannohyla'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. It was erected in 2005 following a major revision of the Hylidae. Twenty-three species previously placed in the genus ''Hyla'' were moved to this genus named in honor of Werner Carlo ...

'' *** ''

Hyloscirtus ''Hyloscirtus'' is a genus of Neotropical frogs in the family Hylidae. This genus was resurrected in 2005 following a major revision of the Hylidae, with the distinguishing features being 56 transformations in nuclear and mitochondrial proteins ...

'' *** ''

Myersiohyla ''Myersiohyla'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. It was erected in 2005 following a major revision of the Hylidae and initially included four species that were previously placed in the genus ''Hyla''. The genus is found in the tepui reg ...

'' *** ''

Nesorohyla ''Nesorohyla'' is a monotypic genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. The sole species is ''Nesorohyla kanaima'', also known as the Kanaima treefrog. It is endemic to Guyana. and possibly Brazil and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical o ...

'' *** ''

"Hyla" nicefori "''Hyla''" ''nicefori'', also known as the Colombian backpack frog, is a species of frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to the border region between Boyacá and Casanare in Colombia and only known from the holotype. The name format, as u ...

'' ** Tribe Dendropsophini ***''

Dendropsophus ''Dendropsophus'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. They are distributed in Central and South America, from southern Mexico to northern Argentina and Uruguay. They are sometimes known under the common name Fitzinger neotropical treefrogs ...

'' *** ''

Xenohyla ''Xenohyla'' is a genus of tree frogs in the family Hylidae that is endemic to xeric habitats of coastal Brazil, with '' Xenohyla eugenioi'' native to the State of Bahia and the State of Sergipe, and '' Xenohyla truncata'' native to the Stat ...

** Tribe Hylini *** '' Acris'' – cricket frogs *** ''

Atlantihyla ''Atlantihyla'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Central America, specifically to Honduras and Guatemala. The generic name refers to its distribution on the Atlantic side of the isthmus (from ''Atlantis''+''hyla''). The ...

'' *** ''

Bromeliohyla ''Bromeliohyla'', sometimes known as the bromeliad treefrogs, is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. This genus was erected in 2022 following a major revision of the Hylidae. The original two species in this genus were previously placed in th ...

'' *** ''

Charadrahyla ''Charadrahyla'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to tropical southern Mexico. The generic name was derived from Greek ''charadra'' ("ravine") and ''Hyla'', in reference to the habits of these frogs. Accordingly, common na ...

'' *** ''

Dryophytes ''Dryophytes'' is a genus of Ameroasian tree frogs in the family Hylidae. They are found mostly in North America, but the genus also includes three species found in eastern Asia. Description ''Dryophytes'' consists of small tree-dwelling frogs ...

'' – Ameroasian treefrogs *** ''

Duellmanohyla ''Duellmanohyla'' is a genus of frogs (mountain brook frogs) in the family Hylidae found in Oaxaca, Mexico, as well as Central America. These are small stream-breeding frogs have bright red, bronze or yellow irises. Their Dorsum (anatomy), dorsa ...

'' – brook frogs *** ''

Ecnomiohyla ''Ecnomiohyla'', commonly known as fringe-limbed treefrogs or marvelous frogs, is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. This genus was erected in 2005 following a major revision of Hylidae. The ten original species in this genus (''E. rabborum ...

'' *** '' Exerodonta'' *** ''

Hyla ''Hyla'' is a genus of frogs in the tree frog family Hylidae. As traditionally defined, it was a wastebasket genus with more than 300 species found in Europe, Asia, Africa, and across the Americas. After a major revision of the family, most of t ...

'' – common tree frogs *** ''

Isthmohyla ''Isthmohyla'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. This genus was erected in 2005 following a major revision of the Hylidae. The 15 species in this genus were previously placed in the genus ''Hyla''. They are endemic to Central America in ...

'' *** ''

Megastomatohyla ''Megastomatohyla'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. They are endemic to the cloud forests of central Veracruz and Oaxaca, Mexico. All are rare species with restricted distributions. The generic name is derived from Greek ''mega'' (="la ...

'' *** '' Plectrohyla'' – spike-thumb frogs *** ''

Pseudacris ''Pseudacris'' (commonly known as the chorus frogs) is a genus of frogs in the family (biology), family Hylidae found in North America ranging from the Pacific coastline to the Atlantic. The name of the genus comes from the Greek language, Gre ...

'' – chorus frogs *** '' Ptychohyla'' – stream frogs *** ''

Quilticohyla ''Quilticohyla'' is a genus of Frog, frogs in the Family (biology), family Hylidae. They are native to southern Mexico and eastern Guatemala. All species in this genus are Endangered species, endangered or Critically Endangered, critically endang ...

'' *** '' Rheohyla'' – small-eared treefrog *** ''

Sarcohyla ''Sarcohyla'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to Mexico and is found in the montane parts of the country between Durango in the north and Guerrero in the south. These frogs typically occur in pristine habitats along stre ...

'' *** '' Smilisca'' – burrowing frogs *** ''

Tlalocohyla ''Tlalocohyla'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae, also known as rain treefrogs or Middle American yellow-bellied treefrogs. They occur in Middle America (Americas), Middle America between Mexico and Costa Rica. This genus was created in ...

'' *** ''

Triprion ''Triprion'' is a genus of frogs (the shovel-headed tree frogs) in the family Hylidae found in the Pacific lowlands of Mexico, the Yucatán Peninsula, and Guatemala Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central ...

'' – shovel-headed tree frogs ** Tribe Lophiohylini *** '' Aparasphenodon'' – casque-headed frogs *** '' Argenteohyla'' – Argentinian frogs *** '' Corythomantis'' – casque-headed tree frog *** ''

Dryaderces ''Dryaderces'' is a small genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. Their known distribution is disjunct, with one species found in the upper Amazon Basin and lower Andean slopes between central Peru and Amazonian Bolivia, and another one in Pará, B ...

'' *** ''

Itapotihyla ''Itapotihyla'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species ''Itapotihyla langsdorffii'', commonly known as the ocellated treefrog. It is found in the Atlantic Forest biome of Brazil, with ...

'' *** ''

Nyctimantis ''Nyctimantis'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. The genus is found in south-eastern Brazil as well as in the Orinoco Basin in Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil. These are tree-dwelling species usually hiding in the cisterns of epiphytic ...

'' – brown-eyed tree frogs *** '' Osteocephalus'' – slender-legged tree frogs *** '' Osteopilus'' *** ''

Phyllodytes ''Phyllodytes'' is a genus of frogs (heart-tongued frogs) in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to eastern Brazil. Taxonomy Based on genetic evidence, genus '' Phytotriades'' was erected in 2009 to remedy polyphyly of ''Phyllodytes'' as then def ...

'' – heart-tongued frogs *** ''

Phytotriades ''Phytotriades'' is a genus of tree frogs in the family Hylidae. As currently delimited, the genus is monotypic and contains ''Phytotriades auratus'', commonly known as the golden tree frog, bromeliad-dwelling treefrog, El Tucuche golden tree fro ...

'' – Trinidad golden treefrogs *** ''

Tepuihyla ''Tepuihyla'', commonly known as Amazon tree frogs or Tepui tree frogs, is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae found in mountains of eastern and south-eastern Venezuela and Guyana, and likely in adjacent Brazil. ''Tepuihyla'' derives from the ...

'' – Amazon tree frogs *** ''

Trachycephalus ''Trachycephalus'' is a genus of frogs, commonly known as the casque-headed tree frogs, in the family Hylidae. They are found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. In a recent revision, the seven species of the genus ''Phrynohyas'' were ...

'' – casque-headed tree frog ** Tribe Pseudini *** ''

Lysapsus ''Lysapsus'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae found in South America east of the Andes. Their common name is harlequin frogs. Many frogs in ''Lysapsus'' have a paradoxical life cycle. They are most massive when they are older tadpoles ...

'' – harlequin frogs *** ''

Pseudis ''Pseudis'' is a genus of South American frogs (swimming frogs) in the family Hylidae. They are often common and frequently heard, but easily overlooked because of their camouflage and lifestyle, living in lakes, ponds, marshes and similar waters ...

'' – swimming frogs *** ''

Scarthyla ''Scarthyla'' is a genus of tree frogs, the family Hylidae. They are found in the upper Amazon Basin The Amazon basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributary, tributaries. The Amazon drainage basin covers ...

'' – Madre de Dios tree frogs ** Tribe Scinaxini *** '' Julianus'' *** ''

Ololygon ''Ololygon'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. The majority of species in it are endemic to the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil, although the range of some species, including '' Ololygon aromothyella'' and '' Ololygon berthae'', is k ...

'' (synonymous with ''Scinax'') *** ''

Scinax ''Scinax'' is a genus of frogs, commonly known as snouted treefrogs, in the family Hylidae. The genus is found from eastern and southern Mexico to Argentina and Uruguay, and in Trinidad and Tobago, and Saint Lucia. Member species A speci ...

'' – snouted tree frogs ** Tribe Sphaenorhynchini *** ''

Sphaenorhynchus ''Sphaenorhynchus'' is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. They are also known as lime treefrogs or hatchet-faced treefrogs. They are found in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins of South America, the Guianas, Trinidad, and southern and east ...

'' – lime tree frogs **

Incertae sedis or is a term used for a taxonomy (biology), taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...

*** '' "Hyla" imitator'' – mimic tree frog * Subfamily

Pelodryadinae Pelodryadinae, also known as Australian treefrogs (although not all members are arboreal), is a subfamily of frogs found in the region of Australia and New Guinea, and have also been introduced to New Caledonia New Caledonia ( ; ) is a g ...

(Australian tree frogs) ** ''

Litoria ''Litoria'' is a genus of Hylidae, hylid tree frogs, sometimes collectively referred to as Australasian treefrogs. Description The species within the genus ''Litoria'' are extremely variable in appearance, behaviour, and habitat. The smallest s ...

'' ** ''

Nyctimystes ''Nyctimystes'' is a genus of tree frogs in the subfamily Pelodryadinae of the family Hylidae. They are principally Papuan species, but also inhabit islands in the Moluccas. All species in this genus have one distinct feature that separates the ...

'' ** ''

Ranoidea The Ranoidea are a Taxonomic rank, superfamily of frogs in the order Anura. Members of this superfamily are characterised by having the pectoral girdle fused into a single complex unit, having no ribs, and using an axillary grip during amplexus ...

'' **

*** "''Litoria''" ''castanea'' *** "''Litoria''" ''jeudii'' *** "''Litoria''" ''louisiadensis'' *** "''Litoria''" ''obtusirostris'' *** "''Litoria''" ''vagabunda'' * Subfamily

Phyllomedusinae Phyllomedusinae is a subfamily of hylid tree frogs found in the Neotropics commonly called leaf frogs. Formerly, they were often considered as their own family, Phyllomedusidae. The subfamily is considered to be the sister group to the Austral ...

(leaf frogs) ** ''

Agalychnis ''Agalychnis'' is a genus of tree frogs native to forests in Mexico, Central America and northwestern South America. The genus consists of 14 species within the family Phyllomedusinae, ''Phyllomedusidae''. Description ''Agalychnis'' are slende ...

'' ** ''

Callimedusa ''Callimedusa'' is a genus of frogs belonging to the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. The species of this genus are found in South America. Species The following species are recognised in the genus ''Callimedusa '': *''Callimedusa atelopoides'' *'' ...

'' ** ''

Cruziohyla ''Cruziohyla'' is a genus of frogs in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. They occur from Honduras in Central America south to the Amazon Basin in South America. This genus was erected in 2005 following a major revision of the Hylidae and fully review ...

'' ** ''

Hylomantis ''Hylomantis'' is a genus of tree frogs, the rough leaf frogs, native to the Atlantic forest in eastern Brazil. There are two recognized species; several others formerly placed in this genus now are placed in ''Agalychnis ''Agalychnis'' is a ...

'' – rough leaf frogs ** ''

Phasmahyla ''Phasmahyla'' is a genus of tree frogs. They are commonly known as shining leaf frogs, and are endemic to Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of count ...

'' – shining leaf frogs ** '' Phrynomedusa'' – colored leaf frogs ** ''

Phyllomedusa ''Phyllomedusa'' is a genus of tree frogs in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae found in tropical and subtropical South America (south to northern Argentina) and Panama. It has 16 recognised species. Taxonomy The following species are recognised i ...

'' ** ''

Pithecopus ''Pithecopus'' is a genus of frogs in the subfamily Phyllomedusinae. Species of the genus ''Pithecopus'' are found in tropical South America east of the Andes, from southern Venezuela to northern Argentina. Resurrected from the synonymy of ''Phyl ...

'' The subfamilies

and

are sometimes classified as distinct families of their own due to their deep divergence and unique evolutionary history (with Pelodryadinae being the sister group to Phyllomedusinae and colonizing

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

during the

Eocene The Eocene ( ) is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (Ma). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes ...

via the

Antarctic land bridge The Antarctic land bridge was a land bridge connecting the continents of South America, Antarctica, and Australia that existed from the Late Cretaceous to the Late Eocene. The land bridge consisted of the entire continent of Antarctica (at the time ...

, which at the time was not yet frozen over), but are presently retained in the Hylidae.

Description

Most hylids show adaptations suitable for an arboreal lifestyle, including forward-facing eyes providing

binocular vision Binocular vision is seeing with two eyes. The Field_of_view, field of view that can be surveyed with two eyes is greater than with one eye. To the extent that the visual fields of the two eyes overlap, #Depth, binocular depth can be perceived. Th ...

, and adhesive pads on the fingers and toes. In the nonarboreal species, these features may be greatly reduced, or absent.

Distribution and habitat

The

European tree frog The European tree frog (''Hyla arborea'') is a small tree frog. As traditionally defined, it was found throughout much of Europe, Asia and northern Africa, but based on molecular genetic and other data several populations formerly included in it ...

(''Hyla arborea'') is common in the middle and south of Europe, and its range extends into Asia and North Africa. North America has many species of the family Hylidae, including the

gray tree frog The gray treefrog (''Dryophytes versicolor'') is a species of small arboreal holarctic tree frog native to much of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. It is sometimes referred to as the eastern gray treefrog, northern gray treef ...

(''Hyla versicolor'') and the

American green tree frog The American green tree frog (''Dryophytes cinereus'' or ''Hyla cinerea'') is a common Species, arboreal species of New World tree frog belonging to the family Hylidae. This nocturnal insectivore is moderately sized and has a bright green to reddi ...

(''H. cinerea''). The

spring peeper The spring peeper (''Pseudacris crucifer'') is a small chorus frog widespread throughout the eastern United States and Canada. It prefers permanent ponds due to its advantage in avoiding predation; however, it is very adaptable with respect to t ...

(''Pseudacris crucifer'') is also widespread in the eastern United States and is commonly heard on spring and summer evenings.

Behaviour and ecology

Species of the genus ''

Cyclorana ''Ranoidea'' is a genus of frogs in the subfamily Pelodryadinae. They are found in Australia, New Guinea, and two nearby groups of islands: the Maluku Islands, and the Louisiade Archipelago. The circumscription of this taxon is still controvers ...

'' are

burrow file:Chipmunk-burrow (exits).jpg, An eastern chipmunk at the entrance of its burrow A burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to construct a space suitable for habitation or temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of Animal lo ...

ing frogs that spend much of their lives underground.

Breeding

Hylids lay their

eggs An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo begins to develop. Egg, EGG or eggs may also refer to: Biology * Egg cell, the female reproductive cell (gamete) in oogamous organisms Food * Eggs as food Places * Egg, Austria * Egg, Switzerland ...

in a range of different locations, depending on species. Many use ponds, or puddles that collect in the holes of their trees, while others use

bromeliad The Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) are a Family (biology), family of monocot flowering plants of about 80 genera and 3700 known species, native mainly to the Tropics, tropical Americas, with several species found in the American subtropics and on ...

s or other water-holding plants. Other species lay their eggs on the leaves of vegetation hanging over water, allowing the

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 to drop into the pond when they hatch. A few species use fast-flowing streams, attaching the eggs firmly to the substrate. The tadpoles of these species have suckers enabling them to hold on to rocks after they hatch. Another unusual adaptation is found in some South American hylids, which brood the eggs on the back of the female. The tadpoles of most hylid species have laterally placed eyes and broad tails with narrow, filamentous tips.

Feeding

Hylids mostly feed on insects and other invertebrates, but some larger species can feed on small vertebrates.

Gallery

Image:Hyla gray treefrog.jpg, '' Dryophytes versicolor'', North American gray tree frog Image:Hylidae 001.jpg, ''Hyla japonica'',

Japanese tree frog ''Hyla japonica'', commonly known as the Japanese tree frog, is a species of anuran native to Japan, China, and Korea. ''H. japonica'' is unique in its ability to withstand extreme cold, with some individuals showing cold resistance at temperatur ...

Image:Masked tree frog swimming.JPG, '' Smilisca phaeota'',

Osa Peninsula The Osa Peninsula () is a peninsula located in southwestern Costa Rica, in the Puntarenas Province, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Gulf of Dulce, Golfo Dulce to the east. The peninsula was formed geologically by a Geologic fault, faul ...

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

References

External links

Amnh.org: Amphibian Species of the World
{{Authority control Amphibian families Extant Thanetian first appearances Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque

Taxonomy and systematics

Description

Distribution and habitat

Behaviour and ecology

Breeding

Feeding

Gallery

References

Further reading

External links