List of Frogs & Toads of Trinidad and Tobago
- Family: Bufonidae - True Toads
- Family: Centrolenidae - Glass Frogs
- Family: Dendrobatidae - Arrow Poison Frogs
- Family: Hylidae - True Tree Frogs
- Family: Leptodactylidae - Leptodactylid Frogs
- Family: Microhylidae - Narrow - mouthed Frods
- Family: Pipidae - Tongueless Frogs
- Family: Pseudidae - Pseudid Frogs
- Family: Ranidae - True Frogs
List of Frogs and Toads (Order: Anura)
Frogs and toads differ from most vertebrates in having glandular skin which lacks epidermal scales, feathers, or hair. The adults are tailless and have hindlimbs specialized for jumping. Most are dependent on water for reproduction. Frogs and toads produce shell-less eggs which hatch into free swimming larvae called tadpoles that metamorphosize into adults. Frogs and toads have more than 3500 species worldwide
Family: Bufonidae - True Toads
Adult toads have thick, glandular skin, with or without warts and large alkaloid producing parotid glands. Eggs are laid in water, and tadpoles are free-swimming. There are 25 genera with about 335 species worldwide. Two species of the genus Bufo occur in Trinidad and one of these species occurs in Tobago. They are found in a wide range of habitats, from desert to primary forest.
Adult toads have thick, glandular skin, with or without warts and large alkaloid producing parotid glands. Eggs are laid in water, and tadpoles are free-swimming. There are 25 genera with about 335 species worldwide. Two species of the genus Bufo occur in Trinidad and one of these species occurs in Tobago. They are found in a wide range of habitats, from desert to primary forest.
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Scientific Name
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Local Name
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Trinidad
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Tobago
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Bufo beebei
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X
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Bufo marinus
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Crapaud
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X
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X
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Family: Centrolenidae - Glass Frogs
Glass frogs are less than 30 mm, distinctively green with transparent skin. The tips of the toes are T-shaped. Most species lay small clutches of eggs on leaves above streams. Upon hatching the elongated tadpoles drop into the water below. There are 4 genera with 65 species globally. One species occurs in Tobago.
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Scientific Name
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Local Name
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Trinidad
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Tobago
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Hyalinobatrachium orientale
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X
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Family: Dendrobatidae - Arrow Poison Frogs
Arrow poison frogs are less than 50 mm and brightly colored. Species that are brightly coloured tend to have toxic skin secretions, while those that are drab lack such secretions They lay very small clutches of eggs. Eggs have large yolks and are laid on land, tadpoles are transported to water on the back of an adult. There are 6 genera comprising 125 species. One species is found in Trinidad and Tobago.
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Scientific Name
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Local Name
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Trinidad
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Tobago
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Mannophryne trinitatis
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Yellow throated frog
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X
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X
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Family: Hylidae - True Tree Frogs
Tree frogs have flattened slender bodies, large eyes, long legs and frequently webbed toes and fingers. Each digit ends in a circular disk with intercalary cartilage and claw like digits to assist in climbing. Hylids are diverse in structure and habits. Many are arboreal but a few are aquatic or fossorial. Most lay large number of eggs in open water that hatch into free swimming tadpoles. However, some lay few eggs and exhibit parental care. There are 38 genera consisting of 650 species. In Trinidad 7 genera are represented by 13 species. In Tobago 4 of these genera are represented by 5 species.
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Scientific Name
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Local Name
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Trinidad
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Tobago
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Flectonotus fitzgeraldi
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X
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X
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Hyla boans
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X
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Hyla crepitans
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Flying frog
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X
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X
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Hyla geographica
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X
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Hyla microcephala misera
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X
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Hyla minuscula
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X
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Hyla minuta
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X
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X
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Hyla punctata
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X
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Phrynohyas venulosa
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X
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X
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Phyllodytes auratus
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El Tucuche golden frog
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X
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Phyllomedusa trinitatis
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X
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Scinax rubra
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X
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X
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Sphaenorhynchus lacteus
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X
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Family: Leptodactylidae - Leptodactylid Frogs
This family of frogs are diverse in structure and habits and are difficult to characterize. Some are typical in appearance while others are bizarre. Many lay eggs in foam nests with an aquatic tadpole, other deposit eggs on land and have direct development. The family contains 51 genera holding 720 species. Five genera are represented in Trinidad and Tobago by 14 species.
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Scientific Name
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Local Name
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Trinidad
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Tobago
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Adenomera hylaedactyla
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X
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Eleutherodactylus charlottevillensis
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X
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Eleutherodactylus johnstonei
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X
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Eleutherodactylus cf. rozei
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X
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Eleutherodactylus urichi
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X
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X
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Leptodactylus bolivianus
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Edible frog
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X
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Leptodactylus fuscus
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Whistling frog
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X
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X
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Leptodactylus knudseni
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X
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Leptodactylus macrosternum
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X
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Leptodactylus nesiotus
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X
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Leptodactylus validus
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X
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X
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| Lithodytes lineatus |
X
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Physalaemus pustulosus
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Coong-la, canal frog, pung-la-la
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X
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X
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Family: Microhylidae - Narrow mouthed frogs
Narrow mouthed frogs are less than 100 mm have a stout body with a small head and narrow, slit-like mouth. The digits usually lack webbing. Instead of hopping, these frogs tend to raise themselves up and walk on all four legs. Most lay small pigmented eggs that hatch into free-swimming tadpoles without beaks or denticles. The family contains terrestrial and arboreal species in 61 genera, with 285 species. Two species occur in Trinidad.
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Scientific Name
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Local Name
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Trinidad
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Tobago
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Elachistocleis ovalis
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X
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Elachistocleis surinamensis
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X
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Family: Pipidae - Tongueless Frogs
Pipids are aquatic frogs that rarely, if ever venture out of water. They have several adaptations to aquatic life including their webbed feet, modified ears and vocals structures and the presence of a lateral line system, which are used to detect wave motion in water. This group is sometimes called the Aglossa.
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Scientific Name
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Local Name
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Trinidad
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Tobago
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Pipa pipa
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Surinam Toad, Surinam Water Toad, Pipa
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X
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Family: Pseudidae - Pseudid Frogs
Pseudid frogs have giant tadpoles which may reach 25 cm in length. They may muscular legs, long digits with an extra phalange bone, and heavily webbed feet. There are two genera and 4 species. In Trinidad one species occurs.
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Scientific Name
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Local Name
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Trinidad
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Tobago
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Pseudis paradoxa caribensis
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Frog fish, Paradoxal frog
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X
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Family: Ranidae - True Frogs
Most ranids are less than 50 mm, but some of the largest frogs, including the African goliath frog belong to the family. This is a diverse group in structure and life history and it is very difficult to characterize on the basis of external features. One species occurs in Trinidad.
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Scientific Name
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Local Name
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Trinidad
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Tobago
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Rana palmipes
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X
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Source: Murphy, John C. (1997), Amphibians and Reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago
Krieger Publishing Company
This book is highly recommended.
For further information please contact the publisher at:
Phone in United States 800-724-0025 or 321-724-9542
www.krieger-publishing.com