Megaelosia

Megaelosia is a genus of frogs in the family Hylodidae.[1][2] The genus is endemic to the Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira in southeastern Brazil. These frogs are sometimes known as the big-tooth frogs.[1]

Megaelosia
Megaelosia boticariana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylodidae
Genus: Megaelosia
Miranda-Ribeiro, 1923
Type species
Megaelosia bufonia
Miranda-Ribeiro, 1923
Diversity
7 species (see text)

Megaelosia are rheophilic: they are associated with fast-flowing rivers. They are difficult to collect because they are easily disturbed and plunge into the torrential waters. Their teeth of are fanglike and larger than those of their close relatives. This might be associated with their predatory habits: at least two species are known prey on small vertebrates as well as invertebrates.[3] The tadpoles are aquatic. Megaelosia are relatively large frogs, with adults attaining lengths up to 120 mm (4.7 in) in snout–vent length.[4]

Species

There are seven species:[1][2]

References
  1. Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Megaelosia Miranda-Ribeiro, 1923". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  2. "Hylodidae". AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  3. Giaretta, Ariovaldo A.; Bokermann, Werner C. A.; Haddad, Celio F. B. (1993). "A review of the genus Megaelosia (Anura: Leptodactylidae) with a description of a new species". Journal of Herpetology. 27 (3): 276–285. doi:10.2307/1565148. JSTOR 1565148.
  4. Vitt, Laurie J.; Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. p. 486.
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