Buergeria


Buergeria is a genus of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae, and the sole genus of subfamily Buergeriinae. They are the sister taxon for all the other rhacophorids (subfamily Rhacophorinae). The available firmly supports this position.[1][2]

Buergeria are sometimes known as Buerger's frogs. There are four species found in an area that stretches from Hainan (China) and Taiwan through the Ryukyu Islands to Honshu (Japan).[3]

Buergeria are medium-sized to large frogs (snout-vent length 40–80 mm (1.6–3.1 in)) that resemble in their body form Rana (unlike other rhacophorids). Their skin is smooth and they have no dorsal ornamentations. Their feet are fully webbed whereas their fingers are only up to half-webbed.[2] They produce many eggs that are deposited in water and develop through a tadpole stage.[4]

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed one of the four species as being vulnerable (Buergeria oxycephala), while the remaining ones are considered being of least concern.[6]