Ranidae
Ranidae (‘true’ frogs; class Amphibia, order Anura) A diverse family of amphibians in which the skeleton is modified for jumping. The tongue always has a notched end. Males often develop vocal sacs. Dendrobates (arrow-poison frogs) of tropical S. America are notable for their extremely vivid warning colours and highly poisonous skin, which secretes batrachotoxin. Rana catesbiana (bullfrog) of N. and Central America, an essentially aquatic species that feeds on other frogs, young alligators, snakes, birds, and small mammals, has paired vocal sacs (and consequent loud voice) and the tympanic membrane is larger than the eye. R. pipiens (leopard frog or meadow frog) is greenish brown with rows of black, brown, or green spots, ringed with a lighter colour; it is common in southern Canada, the USA, and much of Central America. R. temporaria (common frog or European frog) is the most widespread European species (but it does not occur in Ireland). R. ridibunda (marsh frog or laughing frog), an essentially aquatic species, is the largest European frog (up to 17 cm long). There are about 300 species, occurring in all continents except Antarctica; Rana is the only genus with a worldwide distribution, and the only genus in N. America.
More From encyclopedia.com
Earwigs , Earwigs
Earwigs are long-bodied insects with chewing mouthparts and many-jointed antennae in the order Dermaptera. Earwigs have small, vestigial fore… Larks , Larks
Larks are 78 species of small, terrestrial songbirds that make up the family Alaudidae. Larks breed on all of the continents except Antarctica.… Hawaiian Honeycreepers , Drepanididae(Hawaiian honeycreepers; class Aves, order Passeriformes) A diverse family of orange, yellow, green, brown, grey, or black birds, that ha… pseudoscorpions , Pseudoscorpiones (pseudoscorpions; subphylum Chelicerata, class Arachnida) Order of minute arachnids whose name refers to their large, scorpion-like,… Piculet , Picidae
Picidae (piculets, woodpeckers, wrynecks; class Aves, order Piciformes) A family of small to large, black, white, yellow, red, brown, or gree… Owls , Owls
Owls comprise two closely related families in the avian order Strigiformes: the barn owls (Tytonidae) and the typical owls (Strigidae). Owls are…
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
Ranidae