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Wikipedia / Phyllodytes

Phyllodytes is a genus of frogs (heart-tongued frogs) in the family Hylidae. It is endemic to eastern Brazil.

Taxonomy

Based on genetic evidence, genus Phytotriades was erected in 2009 to remedy polyphyly of Phyllodytes as then defined. It remains to be elucidated which Phyllodytes species, apart from Phytotriades (=Phyllodytes) auratus, the type species of the genus Phytotriades, might belong to Phytotriades instead of Phyllodytes. With Phytotriades auratus from Trinidad and Venezuela placed in its own genus, the remaining Phyllodytes species are all endemic to Brazil.

Description

These are small arboreal frogs which live and breed exclusively on epiphytic bromeliad plants. They have large odontoids ("fangs") on the dentaries. Male Phyllodytes do vocalize, in contrast to Phytotriades.

Species

This genus includes 14 species:

Binomial name and author

Common name

Phyllodytes acuminatus

Alagoas heart-tongued frog

Phyllodytes amadoi

Phyllodytes brevirostris

Alhandra heart-tongued frog

Phyllodytes edelmoi

Phyllodytes gyrinaethes

Phyllodytes kautskyi

Brazilian heart-tongued frog

Phyllodytes luteolus

yellow heart-tongued frog

Phyllodytes maculosus

Phyllodytes megatympanum

Phyllodytes melanomystax

Bahia heart-tongued frog

Phyllodytes praeceptor

Phyllodytes punctatus

Phyllodytes tuberculosus

Maracas heart-tongued frog

Phyllodytes wuchereri

AmphibiaWeb continues to include Phytotriades auratus in this genus.

References

  • eol - Encyclopedia of Life taxon at http://www.eol.org.

  • ITIS - Integrated Taxonomic Information System on-line database Taxon at https://www.itis.gov/index.html.

  • GBIF - Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxon at http://data.gbif.org/welcome.htm