DISCOGLOSSIDAE

family of primitive toads (order Anura) whose tongues are disk-shaped. The family contains four genera, which are confined to the Old World. Representatives occur in Europe, northern Africa, China, Korea, and the Philippines. Discoglossid genera have been discovered from Jurassic deposits in Europe and represent some of the oldest frog fossils known. Included in the family are the fire-bellied toad (q.v.), with its brilliantly coloured underside, and the midwife toad (q.v.), noted for the peculiar reproductive behaviour of the male caring for the eggs.