Leiopelmatidae

New Zealand primitive frogs Temporal range: 200–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Early Jurassic – Recent
Hochstetter's Frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Suborder:	Archaeobatrachia
Family:	Leiopelmatidae Mivart, 1869
Genus:	Leiopelma Fitzinger, 1861
Species
See text.
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Distribution of Leiopelmatidae (in black)

Leiopelmatidae is the family of New Zealand primitive frogs, belonging to the suborder Archaeobatrachia. The leiopelmatids' relatively primitive form indicates they have an ancient lineage. While some taxonomists have suggested combining the North American frogs of the genus Ascaphus in the family Ascaphidae with the New Zealand frogs of the genus Leiopelma in the Leiopelmatidae family, the current consensus is that these two groups constitute two separate families. The four extant species of Leiopelmatidae are only found in New Zealand.

Overview

The New Zealand primitive frogs' defining characteristics are their extra vertebrae (bringing the total to 9) and the remains of the tail muscles (the tail itself is absent in adults, although it is present in the younger frogs, which need the extra skin surface until their lungs are fully developed). The family Ascaphidae (found only in North America), of the same suborder, shares these primitive characteristics, and hence the two have often been described as related, or even part of the same family.

Late jump recovery is unique in Leiopelmatidae. When leiopelmatid species jump, they land in a "belly flop" fashion, repositioning their limbs for takeoff for the next jump only after hitting the ground with the ventral surface of their torsos. The appearance of early jump recovery in more advanced taxa is a key innovation in anuran evolution.

They are unusually small frogs, only 5 cm (2.0 in) in length. Most species lay their eggs in moist ground, typically under rocks or vegetation. After hatching, the tadpoles nest in the male's back, all without the need for standing or flowing water. However, Hochstetter's frog lays its eggs in shallow ponds and has free-living tadpoles, although they do not swim far from the place of hatching, or even feed, before metamorphosing into adult frogs. Lifespans may be long (more than 30 years) for such small organisms.

Species

Family LEIOPELMATIDAE

• Genus Leiopelma
  • Archey's frog, Leiopelma archeyi Turbott, 1942
  • Hamilton's frog, Leiopelma hamiltoni McCulloch, 1919
  • Hochstetter's frog, Leiopelma hochstetteri Fitzinger, 1861
  • Maud Island frog, Leiopelma pakeka Bell, Daugherty & Hay, 1998

Extinct species

Three extinct species are known by subfossil remains, also from New Zealand. They became extinct during the past 1,000 years.

• †Aurora frog, Leiopelma auroraensis
• †Markham's frog, Leiopelma markhami
• †Waitomo frog, Leiopelma waitomoensis

See also

• Frogs of New Zealand

External links

• New Zealand Frog Conservation Biology - research on New Zealand frog biology