Hylidae is a wide-ranging
family of
frogs
commonly referred to as "
treefrogs and
their allies". However, the hylids include a diversity of frog
species, many of which do not live in trees, but are
terrestrial or semi-aquatic.
Characteristics
Most hylids show adaptations suitable for an arboreal lifestyle,
including forward-facing eyes providing
binocular vision, and adhesive pads on the
fingers and toes. In the non-arboreal species, these features may
be greatly reduced, or absent. The
Cyclorana species are
burrowing frogs, that spend much of their lives
underground.
Hylids mostly feed on insects and other invertebrates, but some
larger species can feed on small vertebrates.
Hylids lay their eggs 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
bromeliads
or other water-holding plants. Other species lay their eggs on the
leaves of vegetation overhanging water, allowing the
tadpoles 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 onto rocks after they hatch. Another unusual
adaptation is found in some South American hylids, which brood the
eggs on the back of the female, with
Hemiphractus species going as far as to
enclose the eggs in a pouch until they hatch. The tadpoles of most
hylid species have laterally placed eyes, and broad tails with a
narrow, filamentous, tip.
Type species
The European tree frog,
Hyla
arborea, is common in the middle and south of North
America, and range into
Asia and
North Africa. The species become very noisy on
the approach of rain and are sometimes kept in confinement as a
kind of
barometer.
In North America, there are many species of the Hylidae family,
including
Hyla versicolor
(the grey tree frog) and
Hyla
cinerea (the American green tree frog).
The spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
is also widespread in the eastern United States
and is commonly heard on summer and spring
evenings.
"Tree frog" is a popular name for several of the
Hylidae.
Hyla versicolor is the changeable tree frog,
Trachycephalus lichenatus is
the lichened tree frog, and
Trachycephalus marmoratus the
marbled tree frog. However, the name "treefrog" is not unique to
this family, also being used for many species of the
Rhacophoridae.Image:Bufo 6759.jpg|
Hyla versicolor, North American gray
treefrogImage:L wilcoxi.jpg|
Litoria wilcoxi,
Stoney Creek FrogImage:Hylidae
001.jpg|
Hyla japonica,
Japanese Tree
FrogImage:waxy.tree.frog.arp.jpg|
Phyllomedusa
sauvagii,
Waxy Monkey Leaf
Frog
Taxonomy
The Hylidae family is divided into the following subfamilies and
genera:
- Hylidae
References
- This article incorporates text from the Collier's New
Encyclopedia (1921).
External links
- http://www.tolweb.org/Hylidae
- http://amphibiaweb.org/lists/Hylidae.shtml
- http://www.floridanature.org/family.asp?family=Hylidae
- http://www.faunaparaguay.com/hylidae.html
- http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/amphibians/family_hylidae.htm
- http://www.livingunderworld.org/anura/database/hylidae/
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