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Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
MICROHYLIDAE - MICROHYLID FROGS
Three species recorded in Paraguay, in three separate genera but all belonging to the subfamily Microhylinae Günther 1859. Microhylids are small, terrestrial frogs, sometimes known as "narrow-mouthed frogs" on account of their small mouths. They exhibit 8 free procoelous, holochordal presacral vertebrae, the eighth vertbrae being amphiocoelous with biconvex sacrum (diplasiocoelus). Ribs are absent. The urostyle is free with two condyles. and the pectoral girdle firmisternal. The sternum is cartilaginous and the omosternum is absent. The clavicle is reduced or absent and does not overlie the scapular. Palatines are reduced or absent and prevomer is reduced. Adults are toothless with 2 or 3 glandular folds on palate. Astralagus and calcaneum are fused only at the ends. No intercalary phalanges. The sartorius is a separate and distinct muscle. Pupil round. Aquatic eggs and larvae. 2n=22-28.
REFERENCES
Cei JM 1980 - Amphibians of Argentina - Monitore Zoologico Italiano Monografia 2.
Fouquette MJ (undated) - Synopsis of Recent Amphibians to Genus - Arizona University.
Whitfield P Ed.1984 - Longman Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia - Guild Publishing, London.
Key to Adults of Paraguayan Microhylidae
1a Clearly spotted on the dorsum and ventrum. Ventrum not yellow. ........................................................ 2
1b Unspotted, though occasionally with trace of paler mottling on dorsum. Essentially black above, and uniform yellow below with change in colour sharply demarcated laterally. .................. Elachistocleis bicolor
2a Rounded and flattened. Mustard coloured above with variable black mottling. Dark below with yellow or white spotting. .......................................................................................................... Dermatonotus muelleri
2b Slender. Dorsally and ventrally grey with scattered white spotting on body and limbs. .................................................................................................................................... Chiasmocleis albopunctata
