Ghost frogs
Encyclopedia
The Heleophrynidae, is a family
of order
Anura, commonly known as ghost frogs. The family consists of a two genera, Heleophryne and Hadromophryne, with seven species. Ghost frogs live in swift-moving mountain streams in South Africa
. The common name of "ghost frogs" may have been coined because of their occurrence in Skeleton Gorge.
s are modified into a sucking disc, to allow them to cling to substrates, and remain still while they are feeding.
family, which inhabit the Seychelles
. They may also be closely related to the Australian Myobatrachids
.
Family HELEOPHRYNIDAE
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Anura, commonly known as ghost frogs. The family consists of a two genera, Heleophryne and Hadromophryne, with seven species. Ghost frogs live in swift-moving mountain streams in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The common name of "ghost frogs" may have been coined because of their occurrence in Skeleton Gorge.
Biology
Ghost frogs have morphological adaptation suited to surviving on the rocks around these streams. They are medium sized frogs, reaching a length of 6 centimetres (2.4 in), with flat bodies, enabling them to climb inside rocky crevices. They have very large toe discs in comparison to their size, which helps to cling onto rocks. The mouthparts of the tadpoleTadpole
A tadpole or polliwog is the wholly aquatic larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog or toad.- Appellation :...
s are modified into a sucking disc, to allow them to cling to substrates, and remain still while they are feeding.
Taxonomy
The ghost frogs are closely related to the SooglossidaeSooglossidae
The Seychelles Frogs are a family of frogs found on the Seychelles Islands and India. Until recently this family was believed to include the genera Nesomantis and Sooglossus, but following a major revision of amphibians in 2006 the genus Nesomantis was named a junior synonym of Sooglossus;...
family, which inhabit the Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
. They may also be closely related to the Australian Myobatrachids
Myobatrachidae
Myobatrachidae is a family of frogs found in Australia and New Guinea. Members of this family vary greatly in size, from species less than long, to the second largest frog in Australia, the Giant Barred Frog , at in length...
.
Family HELEOPHRYNIDAE
- Genus Hadromophryne Van Dijk, 2008
- Natal Ghost FrogNatal Ghost FrogThe Natal Ghost Frog is a species of frog in the Heleophrynidae family.It is found in Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland....
, Hadromophryne natalensis Hewitt, 1913
- Natal Ghost Frog
- Genus Heleophrynus Sclater, 1898
- Cederberg Ghost Frog, Heleophryne depressa FitzSimons, 1946
- Hewitt's Ghost FrogHewitt's Ghost FrogThe Hewitt's Ghost Frog is a species of frog in the Heleophrynidae family.It is endemic to South Africa.Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, and rivers....
, Heleophryne hewitti Boycott, 1988 - Eastern Ghost FrogEastern Ghost FrogThe Eastern Ghost Frog is a species of frog in the Heleophrynidae family.It is endemic to South Africa.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, and rivers....
, Heleophryne orientalis FitzSimons, 1946 - Purcell's Ghost FrogPurcell's Ghost FrogThe Purcell's Ghost Frog is a species of frog in the Heleophrynidae family.It is endemic to South Africa.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, and rivers....
, Heleophryne purcelli Sclater, 1898 - Royal Ghost FrogRoyal Ghost FrogThe Royal Ghost Frog , also known as the Southern Ghost Frog or Cape Ghost Frog, is a species of frog in the Heleophrynidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, and lives in fast–moving freshwater streams....
, Heleophryne regis Hewitt, 1910 - Table Mountain Ghost Frog, Heleophryne rosei Hewitt, 1925