Leiopelma
| Leiopelma Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Hochstetter's frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Suborder: | Archaeobatrachia |
| Family: | Leiopelmatidae Mivart, 1869 |
| Genus: | Leiopelma Fitzinger, 1861 |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
| Distribution of Leiopelmatidae (in black) | |
Leiopelma is a genus of New Zealand primitive frogs, belonging to the suborder Archaeobatrachia. It is the only genus in the monotypic family Leiopelmatidae. The leiopelmatids' relatively basal form indicates they have an ancient lineage. While some taxonomists have suggested combining the North American frogs of the genus Ascaphus in the family Ascaphidae with the New Zealand frogs of the genus Leiopelma in the family Leiopelmatidae, the current consensus is that these two groups constitute two separate families. The three extant species of Leiopelmatidae are only found in New Zealand.