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.
Sphaenorhynchus is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae. They are also known as lime treefrogs or hatchet-faced treefrogs. They are found in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins of South America, the Guianas, Trinidad, and southern and eastern Brazil. The majority of the species are associated with the Atlantic Forest domain in Brazil.
Physalaemus nattereri is a frog native to central and southeastern Brazil and eastern Bolivia and Paraguay.
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.
Adenomera is a genus of leptodactylid frogs, sometimes known as tropical bullfrogs, found in South America east of the Andes. The genus was until recently considered a synonym of Leptodactylus.
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. The name means ‘slender finger’, from leptos and the Greek daktylos.
Chiasmocleis is a genus of microhylid frogs. They are found in tropical South America north and east of the Andes. Their common name is humming frogs or silent frogs, the latter referring to the formerly recognized Syncope.
Oreobates is a genus of frogs in the family Strabomantidae. Most species were formerly in the genus Ischnocnema, but were moved to this revalidated genus following a 2006 revision. Its sister taxon is Lynchius.
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.
Crossodactylus is a genus of frogs in the family Hylodidae. The genus occurs in Brazil, southern Paraguay, and northern Argentina. These frogs are sometimes known as Limnocharis, Tarsopterus, Calamobates, and by the common name spinythumb frogs. They typically inhabit streams in mountainous areas in the Atlantic Forest or in montane savanna.
Crossodactylus trachystomus is a species of frog in the family Hylodidae. It is endemic to the Espinhaço Mountains in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Cycloramphus is a genus of frogs in the family Cycloramphidae. The genus is endemic to the southeastern Brazil. They are sometimes known as the button frogs.
Hylodes is a genus of frogs in the family Hylodidae. The genus may be paraphyletic with respect to Megaelosia. The genus Hylodes is endemic to southeastern Brazil. Member species are also known commonly as the tree toads, or more ambiguously, as torrent frogs. They are diurnal and usually inhabit shallow mountain streams.
Physalaemus barrioi is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to Serra do Bocaina in São Paulo state, Brazil. The specific name barrioi honors Avelino Barrio, a Spanish botanist and zoologist who lived in Argentina. However, the common name Bocaina dwarf frog has been proposed for it.
Physalaemus deimaticus is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to Brazil and only known from its type locality in Jaboticatubas, Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais. The specific name deimaticus is derived from Greek deimos fror "fear" and refers to the defensive display of this frog, probably aimed at scaring predators. Common names Jaboticatubas dwarf frog and frightening foam froglet have been coined for it.
Thoropa is a genus of frogs in the family Cycloramphidae. They are endemic to eastern and southeastern Brazil. They are sometimes known as river frogs.
Engystomops is a genus of frogs in the family Leptodactylidae. They are known commonly as foam frogs or túngara frogs, though the latter name most commonly refers to Engystomops pustulosus. They are native to the Americas from southern Mexico south to the Amazon Basin.
Physalaemus insperatus is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to southern Brazil and is only known from its type locality, Serra da Pedra Branca do Araraquara in Guaratuba, Paraná. The specific name insperatus means "unexpected" or "surprising" in Latin and alludes to the fortuitous finding of a new species among old museum specimens, originally identified as Physalaemus olfersii; taxonomically, it is part of the so-called Physalameus olfersii species group.
