Pipidae

Pipinae
Xenopodinae

The Pipidae are a family of primative, tongueless frogs. The thirty species in the family Pipidae are found in tropical South America (genus Pipa) and sub-Saharan Africa (four other genera).

These frogs are exclusively aquatic and have numerous morphological modifications befitting their habitat. For example, the feet are completely webbed and a lateral line system is present. In addition, pipids possess highly modified ears and vocal structures for producing and receiving sound underwater.

The fossil record for pipids is relatively good with twelve extinct species known. Six of these are placed in the extant genus Xenopus, the remainder in extinct genera. These fossils are known from Africa, South America, and Middle East back to the Lower Cretaceous.

Genera

• Hymenochirus, Dwarf Clawed Frogs
• Pseudhymenochirus, Dwarf Clawed Frogs
• Pipa, Star Fingered Toads
• Silurana, Tropical Clawed Frogs
• Xenopus, African Clawed Frogs