Amazon Amphibians

| Last updated 2017-Jan-26

Frogs are overwhelmingly the most abundant amphibians in the rainforest.

More than 1000 species of frogs are found in the Amazon Basin.

Unlike temperate frogs which are mostly limited to habitats near water, tropical frogs are most abundant in the trees and relatively few are found near bodies of water on the forest floor. The reason for this occurrence is quite simple: frogs must always keep their skin moist since almost half of their respiration in carried out through their skin. The high humidity of the rainforest and frequent rainstorms gives tropical frogs infinitely more freedom to move into the trees and escape the many predators of rainforest waters. The differences between temperate and tropical frogs extend beyond their habitat. Whereas nearly all temperate frogs lay their eggs in water, the majority of rainforest species place eggs in vegetation or lay them in the ground. By leaving the water, frogs avoid egg-predators like fish, shrimp, aquatic insects, and insect larvae.

Among the best known of rainforest amphibians are the tiny, but brilliantly colored poison dart (arrow) frogs [members of the Dendrobatidae family]. These striking but slow-moving frogs secrete powerful toxins from glands on their backs and use their color to advertise their toxic composition to potential predators. Their toxins are derived from the invertebrates they eat.

The Amazon is home to the world's largest caecilian, a limbless amphibian that resembles an earthworm. The species, Atretochoana eiselti, has been playfully dubbed "the penis snake" for its resemblance to part of the male anatomy. Pictures of Amazonian Amphibians:

Scientific Name	Common name	Family	Order	IUCN Red List Status
Adenomera andreae		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Adenomera heyeri		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Adenomera hylaedactyla		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Allobates brunneus		Dendrobatidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Allobates femoralis		Dendrobatidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Allobates marchesianus		Dendrobatidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Allobates sumtuosus		Dendrobatidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Data Deficient (DD)
Allophryne ruthveni	Tukeit-Hill Frog	Allophrynidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Amazophrynella minuta		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Ameerega hahneli		Dendrobatidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Ameerega parvula	Ruby Poison Frog	Dendrobatidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Ameerega picta		Dendrobatidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Ameerega trivittata	Three-striped Poison Frog	Dendrobatidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Atelopus flavescens		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Vulnerable (VU)
Atelopus hoogmoedi		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads
Atelopus pachydermus		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Critically Endangered (CR)
Atelopus spumarius		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Vulnerable (VU)
Bolitoglossa altamazonica		Plethodontidae	Caudata - salamanders and newts	Least Concern (LC)
Caecilia leucocephala		Caeciliidae	Gymnophiona - caecilians	Least Concern (LC)
Caecilia tentaculata		Caeciliidae	Gymnophiona - caecilians	Least Concern (LC)
Centrolene buckleyi		Centrolenidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Vulnerable (VU)
Ceratophrys cornuta	Surinam Horned Frog	Ceratophryidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Chiasmocleis bassleri		Microhylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Chiasmocleis haddadi		Microhylidae	Anura - frogs and toads
Chiasmocleis hudsoni		Microhylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Chiasmocleis shudikarensis		Microhylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata		Microhylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Cochranella resplendens		Centrolenidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Cruziohyla craspedopus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Ctenophryne geayi		Microhylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendrobates leucomelas	Yellow-headed Poison Frog	Dendrobatidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendrobates tinctorius	Dyeing Poison Frog	Dendrobatidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus acreanus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus bifurcus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus bokermanni		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus brevifrons		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus counani		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads
Dendropsophus gaucheri		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus haraldschultzi		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus koechlini	Koechlin's treefrog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus leali		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus leucophyllatus	Clown Tree Frog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus marmoratus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus melanargyreus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus microcephalus	Yellow Treefrog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus minusculus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus minutus	Lesser Treefrog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus miyatai		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus parviceps		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus rhodopeplus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus riveroi		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus rossalleni		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus sarayacuensis	Sarayacu Treefrog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus schubarti		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dendropsophus triangulum		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Dryaderces pearsoni		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Ecnomiohyla tuberculosa		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Edalorhina perezi	Perez's Snouted Frog	Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Elachistocleis ovalis		Microhylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Eleutherodactylus johnstonei	Johnstone's Whistling Frog	Eleutherodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Engystomops petersi		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Epicrionops bicolor		Rhinatrematidae	Gymnophiona - caecilians	Least Concern (LC)
Gastrotheca testudinea		Hemiphractidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Gastrotheca weinlandii		Hemiphractidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Data Deficient (DD)
Hamptophryne boliviana		Microhylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hemiphractus helioi		Hemiphractidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hemiphractus johnsoni		Hemiphractidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Endangered (EN)
Hemiphractus proboscideus	Sumaco Horned Treefrog	Hemiphractidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hemiphractus scutatus		Hemiphractidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hyalinobatrachium cappellei		Centrolenidae	Anura - frogs and toads
Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni	Fleischmann's glass frog	Centrolenidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hyalinobatrachium iaspidiense		Centrolenidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Data Deficient (DD)
Hyalinobatrachium mondolfii		Centrolenidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hyalinobatrachium munozorum		Centrolenidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hyalinobatrachium taylori		Centrolenidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hydrolaetare schmidti		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hyloscirtus phyllognathus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypodactylus nigrovittatus		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas albomarginatus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas boans		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas calcaratus	Convict Treefrog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas cinerascens		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas crepitans		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas fasciatus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas geographicus	Map Treefrog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas lanciformis		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas microderma		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas multifasciatus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas nympha		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas ornatissimus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas pellucens		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas punctatus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Hypsiboas raniceps		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus bolivianus	Rana-Sapo boliviano	Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus didymus		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus diedrus		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus discodactylus		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus fuscus		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus guianensis		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads
Leptodactylus knudseni	Knudsen's thin-toed frog	Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus leptodactyloides		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus longirostris		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus macrosternum		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads
Leptodactylus myersi	Myers' thin-toed frog	Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus mystaceus		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus pentadactylus	Smoky Jungle Frog	Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus petersii		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus rhodomystax		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus rhodonotus		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus rugosus		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus stenodema		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus validus	Garman's thin-toed frog	Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Leptodactylus wagneri		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Lithodytes lineatus		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Lysapsus laevis		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Nymphargus posadae		Centrolenidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Vulnerable (VU)
Nymphargus siren		Centrolenidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Vulnerable (VU)
Oreobates quixensis		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Oscaecilia bassleri		Caeciliidae	Gymnophiona - caecilians	Least Concern (LC)
Osteocephalus buckleyi		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Osteocephalus cabrerai		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Osteocephalus leprieurii		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Osteocephalus planiceps		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Osteocephalus taurinus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Osteocephalus verruciger		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Osteocephalus yasuni		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Otophryne pyburni	Pyburn's Pancake Frog	Microhylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Phyllomedusa bicolor	Waxy-Monkey Treefrog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Phyllomedusa camba		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Phyllomedusa palliata		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Phyllomedusa tarsius		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Phyllomedusa tomopterna	Tiger-striped Leaf Frog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Phyllomedusa trinitatis		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Phyllomedusa vaillantii		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pipa arrabali		Pipidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pipa pipa	Surinam toad	Pipidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pipa snethlageae		Pipidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pleurodema brachyops		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Potamotyphlus kaupii		Typhlonectidae	Gymnophiona - caecilians	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis altamazonicus		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis carvalhoi		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis chiastonotus		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis conspicillatus		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis croceoinguinis		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis diadematus		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis fenestratus		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis gutturalis		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis lacrimosus		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis lanthanites		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis malkini		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis marmoratus		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis martiae		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis ockendeni		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis peruvianus		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis skydmainos		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis toftae		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis variabilis		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pristimantis ventrimarmoratus		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pseudis paradoxa	Paradoxical Frog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Pseudopaludicola pusilla		Leptodactylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Rana catesbeiana	Bullfrog	Ranidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Rana palmipes		Ranidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Ranitomeya ventrimaculata		Dendrobatidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Rhaebo ecuadorensis		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads
Rhaebo guttatus		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Rhinatrema bivittatum		Rhinatrematidae	Gymnophiona - caecilians	Least Concern (LC)
Rhinella castaneotica		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Rhinella ceratophrys		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Rhinella dapsilis		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Rhinella margaritifera		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Rhinella marina	Cane Toad	Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Rhinella martyi		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Rhinella merianae		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads
Rhinella poeppigii		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Rhinella roqueana		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Rhinella spinulosa		Bufonidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Scarthyla goinorum		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Scientific Name	Vernacular Name	Family	Order	IUCN Red List Status
Scinax boesemani		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Scinax fuscomarginatus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Scinax garbei		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Scinax nebulosus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Scinax pedromedinae		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Scinax proboscideus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Scinax rostratus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Scinax ruber		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Scinax x-signatus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Siphonops annulatus	Ringed Caecilian	Siphonopidae	Gymnophiona - caecilians	Least Concern (LC)
Sphaenorhynchus carneus		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Sphaenorhynchus dorisae		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Sphaenorhynchus lacteus	Orinoco Lime Treefrog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Strabomantis sulcatus		Strabomantidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Synapturanus mirandaribeiroi		Microhylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Teratohyla midas	Santa Cecilia Cochran frog	Centrolenidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Trachycephalus coriaceus	Surinam Goldeneye Tree Frog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Trachycephalus cunauaru		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads
Trachycephalus hadroceps		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Trachycephalus jordani		Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Trachycephalus resinifictrix	Boatman frog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Trachycephalus typhonius	Pepper Treefrog	Hylidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Least Concern (LC)
Typhlonectes compressicauda		Typhlonectidae	Gymnophiona - caecilians	Least Concern (LC)
Vitreorana ritae	Rita's Cochran Frog	Centrolenidae	Anura - frogs and toads	Data Deficient (DD)

Amazon Amphibians

List of selected amphibians from the greater Amazon region

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