Gastrotheca

Gastrotheca
Gastrotheca cornuta
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hemiphractidae
Genus: Gastrotheca
Fitzinger, 1843
Type species
Hyla marsupiata
Duméril and Bibron, 1841
Species

See text

Synonyms[1]
  • Notodelphys Lichtenstein and Weinland, 1854
  • Nototrema Günther, 1859 "1858"
  • Opisthodelphys Günther, 1859 "1858"
  • Amphignathodon Boulenger, 1882
  • Duellmania Dubois, 1987 "1986"
  • Eotheca Duellman, 2015
  • Cryptotheca Duellman, 2015
  • Australotheca Duellman, 2015
  • Edaphotheca Duellman, 2015

Gastrotheca is a genus of frogs in the family Hemiphractidae.[1][2] They are found in Central America south of Costa Rica and in South America.[1] Most species occur in the American Cordillera from southern Costa Rica to north-western Argentina. This genus makes up the bulk of marsupial frog diversity; formerly it was placed in the "Leptodactylidae" assemblage.

Marsupial frogs are so-called because they possess a dorsal brood pouch. In some species the eggs are fertilized on the female's lower back, and are inserted in her pouch with the aid of the male's toes. The eggs remain in contact with the female's vascular tissue, which provides them oxygen.

Gastrotheca guentheri (Guenther's marsupial frog) is the only known frog with true teeth in its lower jaw. Gastrotheca riobambae (Andean marsupial tree frog) is kept as pet and is used in scientific experiments.

Gastrotheca gemma was additionally discovered in 2021.[3]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Frost was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference AmphibiaWeb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Venegas, Pablo J.; García-Ayachi, Luis A.; Echevarría, Lourdes Y.; Paluh, Daniel J.; Chávez–Arribasplata, Juan C.; Marchelie, Axel; Catenazzi, Alessandro (2021-04-09). "A new species of marsupial frog (Anura; Gastrotheca) from the Cordillera de Colán in northeastern Peru". Vertebrate Zoology. 71: 201–218. doi:10.3897/vz.71.e60097. ISSN 2625-8498.