The southern frogs form the Leptodactylidae, a name that comes from Greek meaning a bird or other animal having slender toes. They are a diverse family of frogs that most likely diverged from other hyloids during the Cretaceous. The family has undergone major taxonomic revisions in recent years, including the reclassification of the former subfamily Eleutherodactylinae into its own family the Eleutherodactylidae; the Leptodactylidae now number 206 species in 13 genera distributed throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The family includes terrestrial, burrowing, aquatic, and arboreal members, inhabiting a wide range of habitats.
The Tukeit Hill frogs are three species of frog in the genus Allophryne. Originally erected for the species Allophryne ruthveni, the genus was placed as the only member of the subfamily Allophryninae, which was in turn placed in the family Centrolenidae, but they are now considered as the only genus in the monotypic family Allophrynidae.
Osteocephalus is a genus of frogs, the slender-legged tree frogs, in the family Hylidae found in the Guianas, the Amazon Basin, Venezuela, Colombia, southeastern Brazil, and north-eastern Argentina. Males are warty, while females are smooth.
Adelophryne is a genus of frogs in the family Eleutherodactylidae. They are native to northern South America east of the Andes, known roughly from the area corresponding to the Guiana Shield, as well as to the coastal area of Bahia, Brazil. Whether the genus is truly distinct from Phyzelaphryne remains uncertain. Common name shield frogs has been proposed for this genus, although the stem flea frog is used for some species.
Ischnocnema is a genus of frogs from eastern Brazil and north-eastern Argentina. They comprise the former Eleutherodactylus from this region, but they are closer to Brachycephalus than the "true" Eleutherodactylus. Consequently, they are now placed in their own genus Ischnocnema in the family Brachycephalidae.
Physalaemus is a large genus of leptodactylid frogs. These frogs, sometimes known as dwarf frogs or foam frogs, are found in South America. It is very similar to Leptodactylus, a close relative, and indeed the recently described Leptodactylus lauramiriamae is in some aspects intermediate between them.
Leptodactylus is a genus of leptodactylid frogs. It includes the species commonly called ditch frogs or white-lipped frogs. It is very similar to Physalaemus, a close relative, and indeed the 2005 described Leptodactylus lauramiriamae is in some aspects intermediate between them.
Pseudopaludicola is a genus of leptodactylid frogs from lowland northern and central South America. They are known under the common name dwarf swamp frogs or swamp frogs.
Boana is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. They are commonly known as gladiator frogs, gladiator treefrogs or Wagler Neotropical treefrogs. These frogs are distributed in the tropical Central and South America from Nicaragua to Argentina, as well as in the Caribbean.
Allobates is a genus of frogs in the family Aromobatidae. They are native to the Central and South Americas, from Nicaragua to Bolivia and Brazil, with one species on Martinique.
Mannophryne is a genus of frogs native to Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. They are sometimes known as the fingered poison frogs. This genus was created in 1992 and corresponds to the former Colostethus trinitatis species group. All species have a dark throat collar.
Adenomera araucaria is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to southern Brazil, where it occurs in the southern part of the Serra Geral in the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
Adenomera heyeri is a species of frogs in the family Leptodactylidae, the southern frogs. It is native to South America, where it occurs French Guiana, Suriname, and northern Brazil. It probably also occurs in Guyana. This species was described to science in 2006.
Phantasmarana bocainensis, also known as Bocaina big tooth frog is a species of frog in the family Hylodidae. It is endemic to Brazil and only known from its type locality in the Serra da Bocaina National Park, São Paulo state.
Dryaderces is a small genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. Their known distribution is disjunct, with one species found in the upper Amazon Basin and lower Andean slopes between central Peru and Amazonian Bolivia, and another one in Pará, Brazil. Its sister taxon is Osteocephalus. No phenotypic synapomorphies defining the genus are known.
Adenomera saci is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to central-western and northern Brazil. Prior to its description by Carvalho and Giaretta in 2013, it was confused with Adenomera martinezi. The specific name saci is Portuguese word for a kind of whistling imp in Brazilian (Tupi) folklore, in allusion to the whistling call of this frog.
Phyzelaphryne, commonly known as Miriam's frogs, is a genus of frogs in the family Eleutherodactylidae. The species in this genus are endemic to Brazil. Considered as monotypic until 2018, there are two species currently recognised:
Phyzelaphryne nimio is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae. It is endemic to Brazil where it is found in the Japurá River basin. It is a poorly known species, only discovered on one river bank.
Bokermannohyla napolii is a frog in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to southeastern Brazil. Scientists know it only from the type locality, 850 meters above sea level in Minas Gerais.
