Subfamily Arthroleptinae Phylum Chordata Rank Genus | Scientific name Arthroleptis Higher classification Arthroleptinae Order Frog | |
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Lower classifications Cave squeaker, Arthroleptis tanneri, Common squeaker, Bush squeaker, Arthroleptis poecilonotus | ||
Arthroleptis is a genus of frogs in the family Arthroleptidae found in tropical sub-Saharan Africa. Their common names include screeching frogs, sometimes simply squeakers.
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Description
These species are terrestrial breeding, with direct development (metamorphosis to froglets occurs within the egg). Many species in this genus are small, or very small, frogs with a minimum adult size of 15 mm (0.59 in) snout-vent length. The largest species (Arthroleptis nikeae and Arthroleptis tanneri) reach body lengths around 55 mm (2.2 in). It was hypothesized that small species evolved from larger ones, but in fact the opposite seems to be case.
Arthroleptis species are terrestrial leaf-litter frogs that feed on a range of terrestrial arthropods, such as ants and termites.
Species
Forty-seven to 49 species are known; this list follows the Amphibian Species of the World:
