Parsley Frogs

Parsley frogs, Pelodytidae, is a family of order Anura. The family consists of just one genus, Pelodytes, which contains only three species. These frogs can be found in southwestern Europe and the Caucasus. The common name of "parsley frogs" comes from the Common Parsley Frog (Pelodytes punctatus) which, because of its colouring, looks garnished with parsley.

The parsley frogs are typical looking frogs closely related to the Spadefoot toads and Megophyrids, but differ largely in appearance. Unlike the Megophryids, they do not have cryptic colouring, usually being green or brown. Unlike the spadefoot toads, they lack a hardened protrusion on their feet, although they are still fossorial, and are generally slender frogs.

The parsley frogs are small, smooth skinned frogs, reaching a length of . They are one of the few families of frogs which contain more known extinct species and genera (two or three) than extant species. Although now found only in Europe, fossils of a mid-Miocene species are also known from North America.

Taxonomy

• Genus Pelodytes
• Caucasian Parsley Frog, Pelodytes caucasicus
• Iberian Parsley Frog, Pelodytes ibericus
• Common Parsley Frog, Pelodytes punctatus

References

• Cogger, H.G.; R.G. Zweifel, and D. Kirschner (2004). Encyclopedia of Reptiles & Amphibians Second Edition. Fog City Press. ISBN 1-877019-69-0.
• ADW: Pelodytidae: Information. Retrieved on 2006-05-13..