Stefania
Encyclopedia
Stefania is a genus of frog
s in the Hemiphractidae
family. They are native to southern Venezuela
and Guyana
, but may also occur in adjacent far northern Brazil
. Most are restricted to the tepui
highlands, but S. evansi
also occurs in lowlands. On most mountains there are only 1–2 species from this genus, but 5 are known from Mount Ayanganna
and the neighbouring Mount Wokomung has 6 species. They are usually found near streams at low levels on branches/leaves or on the ground among vegetation/rocks.
They are famous for their breeding strategy where the development from eggs to froglets is completed on the back of the female (the eggs hatch to froglets; there is no free-swimming tadpole
stage). The common name "carrying frog" is sometimes used for Stefania species and it refers to this behavior. A comparable behavior can also be seen in the other genera in the family Hemiphractidae.
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s in the Hemiphractidae
Hemiphractidae
Hemiphractidae is a family of frogs from South and Central America. Previously, this group had been classified as a subfamily under family Hylidae...
family. They are native to southern Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
, but may also occur in adjacent far northern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Most are restricted to the tepui
Tepui
A tepui , or tepuy, is a table-top mountain or mesa found in the Guiana Highlands of South America, especially in Venezuela. The word tepui means "house of the gods" in the native tongue of the Pemon, the indigenous people who inhabit the Gran Sabana....
highlands, but S. evansi
Stefania evansi
Stefania evansi is a species of frog in the Hemiphractidae family.It is found in Guyana, possibly Brazil, and possibly Venezuela.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montanes, and rivers....
also occurs in lowlands. On most mountains there are only 1–2 species from this genus, but 5 are known from Mount Ayanganna
Mount Ayanganna
Mount Ayanganna is a sandstone tepui in the Pakaraima Mountains of western Guyana, 85 kilometres east of Mount Roraima at . With a height of 2,041 metres it is the easternmost tepui taller than 2,000 metres...
and the neighbouring Mount Wokomung has 6 species. They are usually found near streams at low levels on branches/leaves or on the ground among vegetation/rocks.
They are famous for their breeding strategy where the development from eggs to froglets is completed on the back of the female (the eggs hatch to froglets; there is no free-swimming tadpole
Tadpole
A tadpole or polliwog is the wholly aquatic larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog or toad.- Appellation :...
stage). The common name "carrying frog" is sometimes used for Stefania species and it refers to this behavior. A comparable behavior can also be seen in the other genera in the family Hemiphractidae.
Species
- Stefania ackawaioStefania ackawaioStefania ackawaio is a species of frog in the Hemiphractidae family.It is endemic to Guyana.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-Source:...
MacCulloch & Lathrop, 2002. - Stefania ayangannaeStefania ayangannaeStefania ayangannae is a species of frog in the Hemiphractidae family.It is endemic to Guyana.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
MacCulloch & Lathrop, 2002. - Stefania breweri Barrio-Amorós & Fuentes-Ramos, 2003.
- Stefania coxiStefania coxiStefania coxi is a species of frog in the Hemiphractidae family.It is endemic to Guyana.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-Source:...
MacCulloch & Lathrop, 2002. - Stefania evansiStefania evansiStefania evansi is a species of frog in the Hemiphractidae family.It is found in Guyana, possibly Brazil, and possibly Venezuela.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montanes, and rivers....
(Boulenger, 1904). - Stefania ginesi Rivero, 1968.
- Stefania goini Rivero, 1968.
- Stefania marahuaquensis (Rivero, 1961).
- Stefania oculosa Señaris, Ayarzagüena & Gorzula, 1997.
- Stefania percristata Señaris, Ayarzagüena & Gorzula, 1997.
- Stefania riae Duellman & Hoogmoed, 1984.
- Stefania riveroi Señaris, Ayarzagüena & Gorzula, 1997.
- Stefania roraimaeStefania roraimaeStefania roraimae is a species of frog in the Hemiphractidae family.It is found in Guyana, possibly Brazil, and possibly Venezuela.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-Source:...
Duellman & Hoogmoed, 1984. - Stefania satelles Señaris, Ayarzagüena & Gorzula, 1997.
- Stefania scalae Rivero, 1970.
- Stefania schuberti Señaris, Ayarzagüena & Gorzula, 1997.
- Stefania tamacuarina Myers & Donnelly, 1997.
- Stefania woodleyiStefania woodleyiStefania woodleyi is a species of frog in the Hemiphractidae family.It is found in Guyana and possibly Brazil.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
Rivero, 1968.