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''Engystomops'' is a genus of frogs in the family Leptodactylidae. They are known commonly as foam frogs〔 or túngara frogs,〔Romero-Carvajal, A., et al. (2009). (Embryogenesis and laboratory maintenance of the foam-nesting túngara frogs, genus ''Engystomops'' (= ''Physalaemus''). ) ''Dev Dyn'' 238(6) 1444-54.〕 though the latter name most commonly refers to ''Engystomops pustulosus''. They are native to the Americas from Mexico south to the Amazon Basin.〔 This genus was maintained on its own until 1970, when it was merged into ''Physalaemus'', a genus of similar frogs. As studies progressed, there was increasing evidence that ''Physalaemus'' was not a monophyletic group; it was made up of several groups. One of those groups consisted of several frogs more closely related to each other than to the rest of the ''Physalaemus'', and they were represented by ''P. pustulosus'', now ''Engystomops pustulosus''. This group was split off in 2005 on the basis of characters such as basic morphology and vocalizations, as well as allozyme and other genetic analysis. The group was given the revalidated name ''Engystomops''. It included two newly described species.〔Nascimiento, L. B., et al. (2005). (Taxonomic review of the species groups of the genus ''Physalaemus'' Fitzinger, 1826 with revalidation of the genera ''Engystomops'' Jiménez de la Espada, 1872 and ''Eupemphix'' Steindachner, 1863 (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylae). ) ''Arquivos do Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro'' 63(2) 297-320.〕 ==Description== These frogs measure about 1.5〔 or 1.6〔Ron, S. R. (2008). (The evolution of female mate choice for complex calls in túngara frogs. ) ''Animal Behavior'' 76 1783-94.〕 to 3.5〔 or 3.8〔 centimeters long. These frogs live on the forest floor. They breed in temporary pools, sometimes in puddles that form during the rainy season.〔 They are perhaps best known for their foam-nest-building behavior, particularly ''E. pustulosus'', in which the behavior has been well-studied. During mating, the male releases sperm while the female releases eggs and a protein-rich fluid. The male vigorously beats the fluid into a foam with his feet. The eggs are suspended in the foam, which acts as a protective matrix. Some of the proteins have surfactant properties, keeping the foam mass stable on the water, while others likely have antimicrobial and antiparasite properties. Frogs of this genus have been researched in studies of sexual selection and communication in animals.〔Ron, S. R., et al. (2006). (Phylogeny of the túngara frog genus ''Engystomops'' (= ''Physalaemus pustulosus'' species group; Anura: Leptodactylidae). ) ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 39 392–403.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Engystomops」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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