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Ghost Frogs




  Name Ghost frogs
  Regnum Animal ia
  Phylum Chordata
  Classis Amphibia
  Ordo Anura
  Subordo Neobatrachia
  Familia '''Heleophrynidae'''
  Familia Authority Noble , 1931
  Genus '''''Heleophryne'''''
  Genus Authority Sclater , 1898
  Subdivision Ranks Species
  Range Map Heleophrynidae rangePNG
  Range Map Caption Distribution of Heleophrynidae (in black)


The Heleophrynidae, is a Family of Order Anura , commonly known as '''ghost frogs'''. The family consists of a single genus, '''Heleophryne''', and six species. These frogs live in swift-moving streams found in the mountainous areas in South Africa . The common name of "ghost frogs" may have been coined because of their occurrence in Skeleton Gorge .

The ghost frogs habit mountain streams, within their distribution, and have morphological adaptation suited to surviving on the rocks around these streams. They are medium sized frogs, reaching a length of 6 centimetres, with flat bodies. They have very large toe discs in comparison to their size, which helps to cling onto rocks. The mouthparts of the tadpoles are modified into a sucking disc, to allow them to cling to substrates, and remain still, while they are feeding.


TAXONOMY

The ghost frogs are closely related to the Sooglossidae family, which inhabit Seychelles , an island close to the African coast. They may also be closely related to the Australian Myobatrachids .


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