Glassfrogs: translucent skin, green bones, arm spines

Glassfrogs, or centrolenids, are wide-skulled, long-limbed arboreal little frogs (SVL 20-60 mm), unique to the Central and South American cloud and rain forests. Not until 1951 did this group get recognised as a distinct and nameable entity: prior to this, species within the group (known to science since 1872) had been classified as part of Rhacophoridae, the Old World 'bush frogs' or 'shrub frogs'. Most glassfrogs lay their eggs on vegetation overhanging water or on rocks above the water surface and their tadpoles live in nearby streams. Many texts refer to them as 'glass frogs'; I here follow several recent publications (and the trend that's occurring in biological nomenclatural in general) in referring to them as 'glassfrogs'.  [More]