Leiopelmatidae

The family Leiopelmatidae consists of three species of small frogs native to New Zealand. These frogs are unique as they are the only amphibians indigenous to the region and are considered threatened, found only near streams and seepage areas in native forests.1

Males attract females with a soft call, and females lay small clutches of eggs in damp depressions, with males guarding them. In some species, the eggs hatch into nonfeeding tadpoles that quickly metamorphose. These frogs, along with the tailed frogs of North America, represent an ancient lineage that likely diverged from other frogs during the Jurassic Period.1