Limnodynastinae

amphibian subfamily

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The Limnodynastinae are a subfamily of frogs within the family Myobatrachidae, native to the Australo-Papuan region. This family includes about 110 species divided into two subfamilies: Limnodynastinae and Myobatrachinae.1

Some notable species within this group include:
* The Catholic frog (Notaden bennetti), an Australian frog known for its dry-region habitat and burrowing behavior.1
* The flat-headed frog (Chiroleptes platycephalus), another desert-dwelling Australian frog that can store water and take on a ball-like shape.1
* Rheobatrachus silus, an extinct species that brooded its eggs in its stomach.1

Some authorities consider the Myobatrachidae family to be part of the larger Leptodactylidae family.12

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frog and toad
Annotated classification
…cm (4 inches); 2 subfamilies: Limnodynastinae (New Guinea and Australia) and Myobatrachinae (New Guinea and Australia). Family Pseudidae No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae; sacral diapophyses round; pectoral girdle arciferal; intercalary cartilages present, ossified; omosternum present; Bidder’s organ absent; maxillary teeth present; aquatic larvae (which grow to a
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…cm (4 inches); 2 subfamilies: Limnodynastinae (New Guinea and Australia) and Myobatrachinae (New Guinea and Australia). Family Pseudidae No fossil record; 8 presacral vertebrae; sacral diapophyses round; pectoral girdle arciferal; intercalary cartilages present, ossified; omosternum present; Bidder’s organ absent; maxillary teeth present; aquatic larvae (which grow to a
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