A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura. The oldest fossil "proto-frog" Triadobatrachus is known from the Early Triassic of Madagascar, but molecular clock dating suggests their split from other amphibians may extend further back to the Permian, 265 million years ago. Frogs are widely distributed, ranging from the tropics to subarctic regions, but the greatest concentration of species diversity is in tropical rainforest. Frogs account for around 88% of extant amphibian species. They are also one of the five most diverse vertebrate orders. Warty frog species tend to be called toads, but the distinction between frogs and toads is informal, not from taxonomy or evolutionary history.
Melanophryniscus is a genus of toads in the family Bufonidae. They are found in northern half of Argentina, southern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Common name South American redbelly toads has been coined for them.
The American toad is a common species of toad found throughout Canada and the eastern United States. It is divided into three subspecies: the eastern American toad, the dwarf American toad and the rare Hudson Bay toad. Recent taxonomic treatments place this species in the genus Anaxyrus instead of Bufo.
Atelopus is a large genus of Bufonidae, commonly known as harlequin frogs or toads, from Central and South America, ranging as far north as Costa Rica and as far south as Bolivia. Atelopus species are small, generally brightly colored, and diurnal. Most species are associated with mid-to-high elevation streams.
A true toad is any member of the family Bufonidae, in the order Anura. This is the only family of anurans in which all members are known as toads, although some may be called frogs. The bufonids now comprise more than 35 genera, Bufo being the best known.
The banded bullfrog is a species of frog in the narrow-mouthed frog family Microhylidae. Native to Southeast Asia, it is also known as the Asian painted frog, digging frog, Malaysian bullfrog, common Asian frog, and painted balloon frog. In the pet trade, it is sometimes called the chubby frog. Adults measure 5.4 to 7.5 cm and have a dark brown back with stripes that vary from copper-brown to salmon pink.
The Panamanian golden frog, also known as Cerro Campana stubfoot toad and other names, is a species of toad endemic to Panama. Panamanian golden frogs inhabit the streams along the mountainous slopes of the Cordilleran cloud forests of west-central Panama. While the IUCN lists it as Critically Endangered, it may in fact have been extinct in the wild since 2007. Individuals have been collected for breeding in captivity in a bid to preserve the species. The alternative common name, Zetek's golden frog, and the epithet zeteki both commemorate the entomologist James Zetek.
The oak toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to the coastal regions of southeastern United States. It is regarded as the smallest species of toad in North America, with a length of 19 to 33 mm.
The African giant toad, Congo toad, or Cameroon toad is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, possibly Liberia, and possibly Sierra Leone. The toad's natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, plantations, and heavily degraded former forest. While it is a "least concern" species, it is threatened by habitat loss.
Melanophryniscus atroluteus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in northeastern Argentina, Uruguay, southern Paraguay, and southern Brazil. While in the past it was considered a subspecies of Melanophryniscus stelzneri, it might rather be conspecific with Melanophryniscus montevidensis. Common name Uruguay redbelly toad has been coined for it.
Melanophryniscus klappenbachi is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in the Gran Chaco in northern Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil, and possibly in Bolivia. Its specific name refers to Miguel Angel Klappenbach, a Uruguayan zoologist.
Melanophryniscus krauczuki is a species of toads in the family Bufonidae. It is found in the Misiones Province in northeastern Argentina and the Itapúa Department in the adjacent Paraguay. The specific name krauczuki honors naturalist and ornithologist Ernesto Krauczuk. Common name Krauczuk's redbelly toad has been proposed for this species.
Melanophryniscus macrogranulosus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to northeastern Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. It was for a long time only known from the type series collected in 1960, until another population was discovered in 2004. This was followed by the rediscovery of population at the type locality as well as few other populations, all in Rio Grande do Sul. Its common name is Torres redbelly toad, after the type locality.
Melanophryniscus montevidensis, also called Darwin's toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae and the genus Melanophryniscus found in Brazil and Uruguay. Like other amphibians in its genus, its bright colors, defensive behavior, and rapid metamorphosis make it stand out. It also has a myriad of chemical compounds on its skin that could be used in biomedical applications.
Melanophryniscus pachyrhynus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is known from São Lourenço do Sul in southern Brazil and from Uruguay. Populations in Uruguay were until recently considered a different species and assessed as being vulnerable.
Melanophryniscus rubriventris is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forest, and canals and ditches.
Melanophryniscus sanmartini is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is found in Uruguay and southernmost Brazil. Its natural habitats are grasslands and rocky outcrops. Reproduction takes place in small streams. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by exotic tree plantations.
Melanophryniscus spectabilis is a species of toads in the family Bufonidae. It is known from western Santa Catarina and southern Paraná states, southern Brazil. The specific name spectabilis refers to the showy color pattern of this species.
Pumiliotoxin 251D is a toxic organic compound. It is found in the skin of poison frogs from the genera Dendrobates, Epipedobates, Minyobates, and Phyllobates and toads from the genus Melanophryniscus. Its name comes from the pumiliotoxin family (PTXs) and its molecular mass of 251 daltons. When the toxin enters the bloodstream through cuts in the skin or by ingestion, it can cause hyperactivity, convulsions, cardiac arrest and ultimately death. It is especially toxic to arthropods, even at low concentrations.
Melanophryniscus peritus is a species of frog in the family Bufonidae. It is only known from a single specimen collected in 1953, and may be extinct.
