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''Leptopelis'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of frog
A frog is any member of a diverse and largely Carnivore, carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order (biology), order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-f ...
s in the family Arthroleptidae
The Arthroleptidae are a family of frogs found in sub-Saharan Africa. This group includes African treefrogs in the genus ''Leptopelis'' along with the terrestrial breeding squeakers '' Arthroleptis'', and several genera restricted to the Guinea ...
. They are found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the List of sov ...
, excluding Madagascar. It is placed in monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Leptopelinae, although this subfamily is not always recognized. They have a number of common names, including forest treefrogs, tree frogs, leaf-frogs, and big-eyed frogs.
Description
''Leptopelis'' are mostly medium-sized frogs (snout–vent length ), but ''Leptopelis palmatus
The palm forest tree frog (''Leptopelis palmatus'') is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae which is endemic to Príncipe island in São Tomé and Príncipe. Red tree frog '' Leptopelis rufus'' from the African mainland was for a long t ...
'' can reach . Tympanum is present. Most species have expended digit tips.
Ecology
''Leptopelis'' are mainlyarboreal
Arboreal locomotion is the Animal locomotion, locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some animals may scale trees only occasionally, but others are exclusively arboreal. Th ...
, but some species, especially in more arid areas, are terrestrial or even subfossorial
A fossorial () animal is one adapted to digging which lives primarily, but not solely, underground. Some examples are badgers, naked mole-rats, clams, meerkats, and mole salamanders, as well as many beetles, wasps, and bees.
Prehistoric eviden ...
. Breeding typically starts with the heavy rains in the beginning of the wet season. Eggs may be deposited either in water or in/on the ground. Development includes a free-living tadpole
A tadpole is the larval stage in the biological life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial. Tadpoles have some fish-like features that may not be found i ...
stage, with a possible exception of '' Leptopelis brevirostris'', whose large eggs suggest that development could be direct. Males typically call in bushes or trees a meter or more above the ground.
Species
As of July 2021, there are 54 recognized species:
In captivity
''L. vermiculatus'' is found in international pet trade. They are hardy frogs that adapt well to captivity, and readily consume commercially availablecrickets
Crickets are orthopteran insects which are related to bush crickets, and, more distantly, to grasshoppers. In older literature, such as Imms,Imms AD, rev. Richards OW & Davies RG (1970) ''A General Textbook of Entomology'' 9th Ed. Methuen 8 ...
.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1306850 Arthroleptidae Amphibian genera Amphibians of Sub-Saharan Africa Taxa named by Albert Günther