The Alytidae are a family of primitive frogs. Their common name is painted frogs[ or midwife toads.][ Most are Endemism to Europe, but three species occur in northwest Africa, and a species formerly thought to be extinct is found in Israel.
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This family is also known as Discoglossidae, but the older name Alytidae has priority and is now recognized by major reference works.[ Some researchers, though, suggest that Alytes and Discoglossus are different enough to be treated as belonging to separate families, implying resurrection of the Discoglossidae.][ The term "discoglossid" has also been used to refer to many primitive fossil frogs that share plesiomorphic (ancestral) similities to alytids, but that are probably not closely related.]
Genera and species
The family contains three Extant taxon genera, Alytes, Discoglossus, and Latonia. The first is somewhat toad-like and can often be found on land. The second is smoother and more frog-like, preferring the water. The third genus was until recently considered extinct, and is represented by the recently rediscovered Hula painted frog. All of the species have pond-dwelling .
The genera Bombina and Barbourula also used to be under this family, but have now been moved to the Bombinatoridae.
Extant genera
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| | Alytes |
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Alytes cisternasii - Iberian midwife toad
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Alytes dickhilleni - southern midwife toad
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Alytes maurus - Moroccan midwife toad
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Alytes muletensis - Majorcan midwife toad
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Alytes obstetricans - common midwife toad
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| | Discoglossus |
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Discoglossus galganoi - West Iberian painted frog
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Discoglossus jeanneae - Spanish painted frog
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Discoglossus montalentii - Corsican painted frog
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Discoglossus pictus - common painted frog
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Discoglossus sardus - Tyrrhenian painted frog
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Discoglossus scovazzi - Moroccan painted frog
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| | Latonia | |
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Extinct genera
Family Alytidae
External links