Ceratophryidae

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Ceratophryines
Temporal range: Late CretaceousHolocene, 70–0 Ma
Ceratophrys ornata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Superfamily: Hyloidea
Family: Ceratophryidae
Tschudi, 1838
Genera

See text.

Ceratophryidae, known as common horned frogs, are a family of the frogs. All species in this family live in South America. Fossils of the giant Beelzebufo from Cretaceous Madagascar suggest that the subfamily may have once ranged throughout the prehistoric supercontinent of Gondwana.[1] Despite the common name, not all species in the subfamily have the horn-like projections at the eyes. All are carnivorous, terrestrial or semi-aquatic and notably thickset with proportionally large heads and mouths. Some species (especially from the genera Ceratophrys and Lepidobatrachus) are popular in herpetoculture.

Genera

References

  1. ^ Dybas, Cheryl (2008-02-18). "Scientists Discover 'Giant Fossil Frog from Hell'". Press Release 08-025. National Science Foundation. Retrieved 2008-02-19.