Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The origin of the order name Anura—and its original spelling Anoures—is the Ancient Greek alpha privative prefix ἀν-(an-from ἀ-before a vowel) 'without', [6] and οὐρά (ourá) 'animal tail'. [7] meaning "tailless". It refers to the tailless character of these amphibians. [8] [9] [10] The origins of the word frog are uncertain and ...
The smallest amphibian (and vertebrate) in the world is a frog from New Guinea (Paedophryne amauensis) with a length of just 7.7 mm (0.30 in). The largest living amphibian is the 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) South China giant salamander ( Andrias sligoi ), but this is dwarfed by prehistoric temnospondyls such as Mastodonsaurus which could reach up to 6 m ...
Frogs are a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (Ancient Greek an-, without + oura, tail). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" appeared in the early Triassic of Madagascar , but molecular clock dating suggests their origins may extend further back to the Permian , 265 million years ago.
A few species deposit eggs on land or bypass the tadpole stage. Adult frogs generally have a carnivorous diet consisting of small invertebrates, but omnivorous species exist and a few feed on plant matter. Frog skin has a rich microbiome which is important to their health. Frogs are extremely efficient at converting what they eat into body mass.
Researchers studying similar small-sized “flea toads” found this species to be particularly interesting due to its diminutive size as one of the smallest known vertebrate animals.
Paedophryne amauensis, also known as the New Guinea Amau frog, is a species of microhylid frog endemic to eastern Papua New Guinea. [ 2 ] [ 4 ] At 7.7 mm (0.30 in) in snout-to-vent length , it was once considered the world's smallest known vertebrate .
A paratype specimen of Brachycephalus dacnis specimen on a human fingertip A relative comparison of some of the smallest frogs. The smallest vertebrate (and smallest amphibian) known is Brachycephalus pulex, a Brazilian flea toad, with a minimum adult snout–vent length of 6.45 millimetres (0.254 in). [41]
Hylidae is a wide-ranging family of frogs commonly referred to as "tree frogs and their allies". However, the hylids include a diversity of frog species, many of which do not live in trees, but are terrestrial or semiaquatic.