Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Order Frog | Class Amphibia Rank Family | |
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Similar Frog, Allobates, Eleutherodactylidae, Hemiphractidae, Craugastoridae | ||
The Aromobatidae are a family of frogs native to Central and South America. They are sometimes referred to as cryptic forest frogs. They are the sister taxon of the Dendrobatidae, the poison dart frogs, but are not toxic as most dendrobatids are.
Contents
Taxonomy
The Aromobatidae were separated from the Dendrobatidae only in 2006, and some sources continue to treat these frogs as part of the Dendrobatidae. However, their position as the sister taxon is well supported, and the question is primarily about whether they should be ranked as a family or a subfamily.
The validity of subfamilies within the Aromobatidae is also unsettled. Some evidence points to paraphyly of at least the Anomaloglossinae subfamily, and genus Allobates, largely because of the uncertain placement of Allobates olfersioides.
Reproduction
Many aromobatids deposit small clutches of eggs in terrestrial nests. After hatching, one of the parents transports the tadpoles to a small water body, where they complete their development to metamorphosis.
Subfamilies and species
By 2014, 117 species in three subfamilies and five genera had been described:
In addition, "Prostherapis" dunni Rivero, 1961 is placed in this family, but its more precise placement is unknown; it might be an Aromobates.