Tree Frogs of Zihuatanejo

LEAF FROGS

• Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

• Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

• Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

• Amphibians (Class Amphibia)

• Frogs and Toads (Order Anura)

• Tree Frogs and Allies (Family Hylidae)

• Leaf Frogs (Subfamily Phyllomedusinae)

​

The subfamily Phyllomedusinae is a distinctive group of arboreal frogs that occurs primarily in Central and South America. Commonly known as leaf frogs, members of this subfamily are adapted for life in trees and shrubs, possessing long limbs, grasping hands and feet with opposable digits, and relatively small toe pads compared with many other treefrogs. . A characteristic reproductive behaviour of phyllomedusine frogs involves laying eggs on leaves that overhang water; when the eggs hatch, the tadpoles drop directly into the water below to continue development. Members of this subfamily are primarily nocturnal and feed on insects and other small invertebrates.