Brevicipitidae

Breviceps gibbosus

As a short- head frogs ( Brevicipitidae ) refers to a family within the order of Anura, which is native to the eastern and southern parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Their range extends from Ethiopia to Angola and South Africa. The species of the genera Callulina and Spelaeophryne are endemic to the Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania.

Features

All types of short- head frogs have very small heads and hind legs, the males are usually much smaller than the females. In some species ( particularly Breviceps ) the size difference is so enormous, that the males of the amplexus, the staple position during mating, can not run due to the small hind legs. Therefore, when pairing an adhesive secretion is secreted, so that the male will not slip. The eggs are laid in the earth. This hatch fully developed frogs without development in a Kaulquappenphase.

System

The short head frogs were once counted to the family of Microhylidae, but recent molecular genetic analyzes have a common ancestor with Hyperoliidae, Hemisotidae and Arthroleptidae suspect.

Genera and species

• Genus Balebreviceps Largen & Drewes, 1989 Balebreviceps hillmani [ Largen & DREWES, 1989 ]

• Breviceps acutirostris [ POYNTON, 1963 ]
• Breviceps adspersus [ PETERS, 1882 ]
• Breviceps bagginsi [ MINTER, 2003]
• Breviceps Branchi [ CHANNING, 2012]
• Breviceps fichus [ CHANNING & MINTER, 2004]
• Breviceps fuscus [ HEWITT, 1925 ]
• Breviceps gibbosus [ Linnaeus, 1758 ]
• Breviceps macrops [ Boulenger, 1907 ]
• Breviceps maculatus [ FITSSIMONS, 1947 ]
• Breviceps montanus [POWER 1926 ]
• Breviceps mossambicus [ PETERS, 1854 ]
• Breviceps namaquensis [POWER 1926 ]
• Breviceps POWERi [ PARKER, 1934 ]
• Breviceps rosei [POWER 1926 ]
• Breviceps sopranus [ MINTER, 2003]
• Breviceps sylvestris [ FITSSIMONS, 1930 ]
• Breviceps verrucosus [ RAPP, 1842 ]

• Callulina dawida [ LOADER, MEASEY, DE SÁ, & MALONZA, 2009]
• Callulina hanseni [ LOADER, GOWER, MÜLLER & Menegon, 2010]
• Callulina kanga [ LOADER, GOWER, MÜLLER & Menegon, 2010]
• Callulina kisiwamsitu [DE SÁ, LOADER & CHANNING, 2004]
• Callulina kreffti [ Nieden, 1911 ]
• Callulina meteora [ Menegon, GOWER & LOADER, 2011]
• Callulina laphami [ LOADER, GOWER, NGALASON & Menegon, 2010]
• Callulina shengena [ LOADER, GOWER, NGALASON & Menegon, 2010]
• Callulina stanleyi [ LOADER, GOWER, NGALASON & Menegon, 2010]

• Probreviceps durirostris [ LOADER & CHANNING, Menegon & DAVENPORT, 2006]
• Probreviceps loveridgei [ PARKER, 1931 ]
• Probreviceps macrodactylus [ Nieden, 1926 ]
• Probreviceps rhodesianus [ POYNTON & Broadley, 1967 ]
• Probreviceps rungwensis [ LOVE RIDGE, 1932 ]
• Probreviceps uluguruensis [ LOVE RIDGE, 1925 ]

• Spelaeophryne methneri [ AHL, 1924 ]