The Arthroleptidae are a family of frogs found in sub-Saharan Africa. This group includes African treefrogs in the genus Leptopelis along with the terrestrial breeding squeakers Arthroleptis, and several genera restricted to the Guinean forests of central and west Africa, such as the hairy frog (Trichobatrachus).
Taxonomy This family is the phylogenetic sister group of reed frogs, the Hyperoliidae, which together form the lineage Laurentobatrachia, a name that commemorates work on African frogs by the Argentine herpetologist Raymond Laurent. This group is further nested within the Afrobatrachia, an ancient African endemic lineage that includes the Brevicipitidae and Hemisotidae. The Arthroleptidae are separated, based on phylogenetic analyses, into three deeply divergent and dissimilar subfamilies: Arthroleptinae, Astylosterninae, and Leptopelinae. Some consider these to be separate families, while others do not recognize any subfamilies, in particular due to uncertainty in the phylogenetic placement of Leptopelis and Scotobleps.
The three subfamilies consist of these genera:
SubfamiliaSpeciesCommon nameScientific name Arthroleptinae 48 Screeching frogs Arthroleptis 19 Long-fingered frogs Cardioglossa Astylosterninae12 Night frogs Astylosternus 15 Egg frogs Leptodactylodon 1 Southern night frog Nyctibates 1 Gaboon forest frog Scotobleps 1 Hairy frog Trichobatrachus Leptopelinae54 Forest treefrogs Leptopelis
References
*" 'Horror frog' breaks own bones to produce claws." NewScientist.com, 2008
Further information ADW: Arthroleptidae: Information