A.E.D. Family Nr Species
.103 Leptodactylid Frogs, Leptodactylidae (29)
.060 Tree Frogs, Hylidae (29)
.050 Narrow-mouthed Toads, Microhylidae (5)
.030 True Frogs, Ranidae (33)
.027 Toads, Bufonidae (28)
.000 Old World Tree Frogs, Rhacophoridae (2)
.000 Discoglossid Frogs, Discoglossidae (3)
.000 Spadefoot, Pelobatidae (5)
Frogs, as a total order, are lighter-eyed than any other order of animals in the database. Most species have yellowish eye colors. All families fall within a narrow range of mean eye darkness near the light end of the scale. Behaviorally, frogs are ambush hunters that mostly sit and wait for prey to come close. When that occurs a coiled tongue flips out to take the prey.
Frogs are passive predators and also passive prey. Rather than being quick to flee from predators, frogs use various escape tactics (e.g. feigning death) that depend on “freezing” or immobility. Cryptic color or markings and immobility help the sit-and-wait frog avoid detection by its intended prey or by a passing predator. Frogs illustrate well skillful waiting.
August 21, 2006
Families of Anura
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