Physalaemus nattereri (Steindachner, 1863)

Open encyclopedia reference

Physalaemus nattereri (common name: Cuyaba dwarf frog) is a frog native to central and southeastern Brazil and eastern Bolivia and Paraguay. It inhabits savanna and Cerrado regions, always near permanent or temporary water bodies such as ponds and swamps, where it typically nests. The species is not adapted to areas with human activity. Males have an average length of 4.7 centimeters (1.9 in), while females measure 4.9 centimeters (1.9 in). The dorsal coloration ranges from light brown to dark brown or reddish, featuring a mosaic of darker spots or stripes. The ventral surface is light brown with dark spots. The species is unmistakable in its habitat due to a pair of ocelli on the posterior part of its body. Its testicles and other organs are brightly colored, a rare trait among anurans, caused by a high concentration of melanocytes. Its diet is generalist and opportunistic, primarily consisting of termites and ants. Despite an effective defense strategy and highly potent toxins, it can be preyed upon by various animals, including birds and beetles.

Wikipedia contributors, Physalaemus nattereri; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T17:47:19.235040+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.

Identity & source status

Scientific name

Physalaemus nattereri (Steindachner, 1863)

Name authority

(Steindachner, 1863)

Rank

species

Accepted status

accepted

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Amphibia

Order

Anura

Family

Leptodactylidae

Genus

Physalaemus

Extinction status

Recorded extant

Classification family tree

Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.

1. domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
2. kingdomAnimalia
3. phylumChordata
4. subphylumVertebrata
5. infraphylumGnathostomata
6. parvphylumOsteichthyes
7. megaclassTetrapoda
8. classAmphibia
9. orderAnura
10. familyLeptodactylidae Werner, 1896
11. subfamilyLeiuperinae Bonaparte, 1850
12. genusPhysalaemus Fitzinger, 1826
13. speciesPhysalaemus nattereri (Steindachner, 1863)

Close classified relatives

These entries share the source’s genus, Physalaemus. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.

Browse 188 records assigned to Leptodactylidae.

Names & synonyms

Names explicitly linked to this accepted taxon in the source. Synonymy can change with revision.

Source literature & publication evidence

References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.

1. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=207841 Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references

Origins, evidence & remaining research

Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.

Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.

Dataset citation & attribution

This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11

Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.

Stable key: col:77GGC. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.