Microhylidae (narrow-mouthed frogs; class Amphibia, order Anura) A family of burrowing or nocturnal, arboreal frogs, most of which have an egg-shaped body, tapered head, and narrow mouth. The tadpoles may be free-swimming, or develop within the egg. Breviceps adspersus (rain frog or shorthead) of southern Africa lays its egg mass in a damp burrow and the froglets develop without an aquatic phase; large numbers of rain frogs appear after rain. There are many species, occurring in the Old and New World tropics.

narrow-mouthed frogs See MICROHYLIDAE.