| Archaeobatrachia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Hochstetter's frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Suborder: | Archaeobatrachia |
| Families | |
Ascaphidae | |
Archaeobatrachia (Neo-Latinarchaeo- ("old") +batrachia ("frog")) is a suborder of the orderAnura containing various primitivefrogs andtoads. As the name suggests, these are the most primitive frogs. Many of the species (28 in total) show certainphysiological characteristics[clarification needed] which are not present in other frogs and toads, thus giving rise to this group. They are largely found inEurasia,New Zealand, thePhilippines, andBorneo, and are characteristically small. In addition, the familyAscaphidae is found in thePacific Northwest and northernRocky Mountains of theUnited States, and is only represented by two species. The taxon is considered paraphyletic.[citation needed]
