Research Progress

Amphibians and Reptiles

Systematic Status of Rhacophorid Frogs

Update time: 04/13/2011
Today, the family Rhacophoridae consists of 319 species in 14 genera. The group ranges across tropical Africa and Southern Asia, including India and Sri Lanka, the Himalayas, Myanmar, South China, eastward to Japan and the Philippine Islands, and southward across Indochina to Greater Sunda.
Most rhacophorids are treefrogs, with the majority of species exhibiting particularly vivid and pleasant coloration. The species are united morphologically in possessing intercalary elements between the two distal phalanges and expanded digit discs.
These characters are shared with hylids, mantellids, and some ranid lineages. Toe pads help in climbing due to their ectodermal morphology and secreted proteins which aid in their adherence to surfaces. Many treefrogs can change color, usually to match their surroundings.
When the reproductive season has passed, treefrogs usually burrow into the humus on the forest floor. Rhacophorids range from being small to large, with SVL (snout-vent length, from tip of snout to vent) ranging from 15 to 110 mm.
The habitats vary from living on soil to the forest canopy. Some interesting reproductive modes occur in rhacophorids.Several genera, including Philautus, Pseudophilautus and Raorchestes, are characterized by the aerial direct development of eggs into froglets.
The genera Chiromantis, Feihyla, Rhacophorus and Polypedates either form aerial nests of foam or they lay their eggs in a jelly-like secretion filled with bubbles which hangs over water. Their eggs develop into tadpoles that drop into the water once they reach a certain size. Treefrogs are known for their loud and diverse vocalizations, made only by the males, with flap consonant.

Recently, it is discovered that the frog family Rhacophoridae recently underwent notable reorganization and taxonomic rearrangement. Several new genera were erected to reflect evolutionary history, including Ghatixalus, Gracixalus, Feihyla, Liuixalus and Raorchestes. 

CIB(Chengdu Institute of Biology) Dr.LI Jiatang reviewed the systematics and phylogeny of the rhacophorids, the definition of the family Rhacophoridae and its tribes, and the taxonomic history and diagnoses of the genera of this family. Also, LI's research suggest future directions for research.