One final word (long post).

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Frog and Toad Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by EricO on July 11, 2000 at 16:11:16:

In Reply to: Firebelly Frog or Toad? posted by Clyde on July 09, 2000 at 12:11:37:

As you well know, the current scientific names of organisms are universal and officially sanctioned by the International Committee on Biological Nomenclature. Common names vary considerably, even within the same country. However, there are more-or-less "standard" common names used by scientists and naturalists to help a non-specialist understand what organism they are writing about. In the heirarchy of taxanomic classification, frogs and toads are members of Class: Amphibia; Order: Anura (=without tails). Therefore, when we speak of them collectively, we usually call them "Anurans". Within the Order Anura, there are many different "Families", which are used to deliniate organisms believed to have a common ancestry and share certain key anatomical features. These so-called higher groupings are strictly arbitrary, in that they are the creations of taxonomists. A number of Anuran Famililes are referred to as the such-and-such "toad" family. For example, the Bufonidae are called the "True Toads", the Pelobatidae are the Spadefoot Toads and the Microhylidae are the Narrowmouth Toads. The Bombinatoridae are called the Firebelly Toad Family. This is all a mater of common usage, however, as there are no specific morphological characteristics that scientifically define a "toad". Even within the True Toad Family, the Bufonidae, there are Anurans with smooth skins, Anurans that climb trees and Anurans that are completely aquatic and resemble the Surinam "toads" of the African Clawed Frog Family, Pipidae.

A book I have found very useful in this respect is "A Complete Guide to Scientific and Common Names of Reptiles and Amphibians of the World" by Noeman Frank and Erica Ramus (N G Publishing Inc. 1995). Assembling the best sources, they list the common name of every species and higher taxonomic group of retiles and amphibians in the world.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: As you well know, the current scientific names of organisms are universal and officially sanctioned by the International Committee on Biological Nomenclature. Common names vary considerably, even within the same country. However, there are more-or-less "standard" common names used by scientists and naturalists to help a non-specialist understand what organism they are writing about. In the heirarchy of taxanomic classification, frogs and toads are members of Class: Amphibia; Order: Anura (=without tails). Therefore, when we speak of them collectively, we usually call them "Anurans". Within the Order Anura, there are many different "Families", which are used to deliniate organisms believed to have a common ancestry and share certain key anatomical features. These so-called higher groupings are strictly arbitrary, in that they are the creations of taxonomists. A number of Anuran Famililes are referred to as the such-and-such "toad" family. For example, the Bufonidae are called the "True Toads", the Pelobatidae are the Spadefoot Toads and the Microhylidae are the Narrowmouth Toads. The Bombinatoridae are called the Firebelly Toad Family. This is all a mater of common usage, however, as there are no specific morphological characteristics that scientifically define a "toad". Even within the True Toad Family, the Bufonidae, there are Anurans with smooth skins, Anurans that climb trees and Anurans that are completely aquatic and resemble the Surinam "toads" of the African Clawed Frog Family, Pipidae. : A book I have found very useful in this respect is "A Complete Guide to Scientific and Common Names of Reptiles and Amphibians of the World" by Noeman Frank and Erica Ramus (N G Publishing Inc. 1995). Assembling the best sources, they list the common name of every species and higher taxonomic group of retiles and amphibians in the world.

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Frog and Toad Forum ] [ FAQ ]

KINGSNAKE.COM

Enjoy all our content free of charge with a user account that gives you full access to every feature. For added visibility, paid options are available - post in our Classifieds, showcase your business with Banner Ads or a Directory listing, promote reptile events, and more.

One final word (long post).

KINGSNAKE.COM

Quick Links

Community

Legal & Safety

Support