CLASSIFICATION OF FROGS
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
The 7 main levels of classification are:
Biologists use a common classification Kingdom
system so that everyone can identify an Phylum
organism the same way. In the 1700s, Carl
Class
Linnaeus proposed a hierarchical system of
classification. The system used by Order
biologists today is very similar to the one Family
proposed by Linnaeus.
Genus
Species
Frogs are classified as…
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Amphibia
Order – Anura
Family – different for different frogs
Genus – different for different frogs
Species – different for different frogs
Why?
Kingdom – Animalia
Frogs belong to the animal kingdom. They are multicellular organisms (their bodies are
made up of many cells working together) and their cells lack cell walls. They cannot
produce their own food (a scientific term for this is “heterotrophic”). They need to consume
other organisms for energy. They can move (biologists call this “motile”).
Why?
Phylum – Chordata
Frogs are vertebrates, which is a subphylum of chordata. They have a spinal cord and a
back bone. Other animals in the chordata phylum include fish, reptiles, birds and
mammals (all vertebrates) as well as salps, sea squirts and lancelets.
Why?
Class - Amphibia
Amphibians are cold blooded (ectothermic), which means their body temperature varies
with their surroundings. They are tetrapods, which means they have 4 limbs. They can
breathe through their skin. Frogs, salamanders and caecilians are all amphibians.
Why?
Order - Anura
Anuru means “without tail” in Ancient Greek. Frogs and toads make up the order anura.
Frogs that you might find around
south-east Queensland …
1. Family – Myobatrachidae
The common name for this family of frogs is “Australian
ground frogs”. They are either terrestrial (ground dwelling)
or aquatic (live in water). There are no arboreal (live in
trees) frog species in this family.
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Amphibia
Order – Anura
Family – Myobatrachidae
Genus – Adelotus
Adelotus brevis Tusked frog
Listed as vulnerable
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Amphibia
Order – Anura
Family – Myobatrachidae
Genus – Crinia
Crinia parinsignifera
Beeping froglet
Crinia tinnula
Wallum froglet
Crinia signifera
Listed as vulnerable
Clicking froglet
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Amphibia
Order – Anura
Family – Myobatrachidae
Genus – Limnodynastes Limnodynastes peronei
Limnodynastes terraereginae Striped marsh frog
Scarlet sided pobblebonk
Kingdom – Animalia Mixophyes fasciolatus
Phylum – Chordata Great barred frog
Class – Amphibia
Order – Anura
Family – Myobatrachidae
Genus – Mixophyes
Mixophyes fleayi
Fleay’s barred frog Mixophyes iteratus
Listed as endangered Giant barred frog
Listed as endangered
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Amphibia
Order – Anura
Family – Myobatrachidae
Genus – Pseudophryne
Pseudophryne raveni
Copper backed broodfrog
Pseudophryne major
Great brown broodfrog
2. Family – Hylidae
This is the family of tree frogs and their friends. They can
be arboreal, terrestrial or semiaquatic.
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Amphibia
Order – Anura
Family –Hylidae
Genus - Cyclorana
Cyclorana alboguttata Greenstripe frog
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Amphibia
Order – Anura
Family – Hylidae
Genus – Litoria
Litoria brevipalmata Litoria caerulea
Green thighed frog Green treefrog
Litoria chloris Litoria cooloolensis Litoria dentata
Orange eyed treefrog Cooloola sedgefrog Bleating treefrog
Listed as near threatened
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Amphibia
Order – Anura
Family – Hylidae
Genus – Litoria
Litoria fallax Litoria freycineti
Eastern sedgefrog Wallum rocketfrog
Listed as vulnerable
Litoria gracilenta Litoria latopalmata Litoria nasuta
Graceful treefrog Broad palmed rocketfrog Striped rocketfrog
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Amphibia
Order – Anura Litoria pearsoniana
Family – Hylidae Cascade treefrog
Genus – Litoria Listed as vulnerable Litoria tyleri
Litoria olongburensis Southern laughing treefrog
Wallum sedgefrog
Listed as vulnerable
Litoria rublla Litoria wilcoxii
Litoria peronii Litoria rothii Ruddy treefroge Eastern stony creek
Emerald spotted treefrog Northern laughing treefrog frog
3. Family – Bufonidae
This is the family of true toads. They are different from
frogs, but are still part of the Anura order. The only true
toad in Australia is the Cane Toad. Rhinella marina Cane toad
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Amphibia
Order – Anura
Family – Bufonidae
Genus – Rhinella
