Physalaemus
| Physalaemus | |
|---|---|
| Physalaemus cuvieri | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Leptodactylidae |
| Subfamily: | Leiuperinae |
| Genus: | Physalaemus Fitzinger, 1826 |
| Type species | |
| Physalaemus cuvieri Fitzinger, 1826
| |
| Diversity | |
| About 48 species (see text) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Physalaemus is a large genus of leptodactylid frogs. These frogs, sometimes known as dwarf frogs or foam frogs, are found in South America. It is very similar to Leptodactylus, a close relative, and indeed the recently described Leptodactylus lauramiriamae is in some aspects intermediate between them. They have been described by researchers as presenting one of the most puzzling taxonomic histories among Neotropical anurans because of the occurrence of highly polymorphic and cryptic species.