Subclass Lissamphibia Order Anura Scientific name Pipidae Rank Family | Phylum Chordata Superorder Batrachia Suborder Mesobatrachia Higher classification Frog | |
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Lower classifications Xenopus, African clawed frog, Common Suriname toad, African dwarf frog, Pipa | ||
Pipidae water frog
The Pipidae are a family of primitive, tongueless frogs. The 41 species in the family Pipidae are found in tropical South America (genus Pipa) and sub-Saharan Africa (the three other genera).
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These frogs are exclusively aquatic and have numerous morphological modifications befitting their habitat. For example, the feet are completely webbed, the body is flattened, and a lateral line system is present. In addition, pipids possess highly modified ears for producing and receiving sound underwater. They lack a tongue or vocal cords, instead having bony rods in the larynx that help produce sound. They range from 4 to 19 cm (1.6 to 7.5 in) in body length.
The fossil record for pipids is relatively good, with 12 extinct species known. Six of these are placed in the extant genus Xenopus, the remainder in extinct genera. These fossils are known from Africa, South America, and the Middle East back to the Lower Cretaceous.
Genera
Family Pipidae Gray, 1825