This small group of tiny frogs is found in forests of southeastern Brazil. The Gold Frog (Brachycephalus ephippium) is the best known member of this family, and is distinctive because of its color and possession of bony dorsal shields that are fused to the vertebrae. However, other populations of Brachycephalus (currently synonymized) have less ossification. With a snout-vent length of only 9.8 mm, Psyllophryne didactyla is one of the world's smallest amphibians. Both genera exhibit reduction of the number of digits. The two genera are united by the absence of a sternum. There are no fossil brachycephalids.

The distribution of living members of the family Brachycephalidae is indicated in red.
 

• Brachycephalidae
  • Brachycephalus ephippium
  • Psyllophryne didactyla

from Frost (1985)

Ford and Cannatella (1993) defined Brachycephalidae to be the most recent common ancestor of Brachycephalus and Psyllophryne, and all its descendants. Synapomorphies include the absence of a sternum, digital reduction, and complete ossification of epicoracoid cartilages with coracoids and clavicles (data from Izecksohn, 1971).

  

Brachycephalids have always been considered to be neobatrachians. A photo in Halliday and Adler (1986:38-39) shows Brachycephalus ephippium in inguinal amplexus, a behavior that is rare in Neobatrachia (Nussbaum, 1980).

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
                                        

Specimen Records:	36	Public Records:	0
Specimens with Sequences:	29	Public Species:	0
Specimens with Barcodes:	16	Public BINs:	0
Species:	9
Species With Barcodes:	5

Collection Sites: world map showing specimen collection locations for Brachycephalidae