Ceuthomantidae

Heinicke, Matthew P., Duellman, William E., Trueb, Linda, Means, Bruce, D, Ross & Hedges, Blair, 2009, A new frog family (Anura: Terrarana) from South America and an expanded direct-developing clade revealed by molecular phylogeny, Zootaxa 2211, pp. 1-35 : 6

Ceuthomantidae new family

Type genus. Ceuthomantis Heinicke, Duellman, Trueb, Means, MacCulloch , and Hedges, 2009.

Diagnosis. A member of Terrarana ( Hedges et al. 2008) based on direct development of terrestrial eggs (inferred), T-shaped terminal phalanges, “S” condition of adductor musculature as defined by Lynch (1986), and its lacking intercalary elements. It differs from other families in that group in having paired dorsal glandlike protrusions of unknown function in the post-temporal, and sacral regions. Although these protrusions appear to have contained lipids, they are not true glands. Body glands, similar in external appearance to these structures, are present in some species of Eleutherodactylus (Eleutherodactylidae) but they are located in the inguinal and flank regions. Also, computed tomography scans of the holotype show that the neurocranium is extraordinarily poorly ossified, and the neopalatine is unusually massive.

Content. One genus, Ceuthomantis .

Distribution. Known only from the Guiana Highlands, northeastern South America.