Batrachia

Batrachia

Translingual

Batrachia, Anura: European common frog

Batrachia, Urodela: Cave salamander

Etymology

New Latin Batrachia, formerly a name for the zoological order Anura, from Ancient Greek βατραχεια (batrakheia), neuter plural of adjective from βατραχος (batrakhos, “frog”)

Proper noun

Batrachia

1. (archaic) A taxonomic superorder within the subclass Lissamphibia – since the late 20th century Batrachia has denoted both tailed and tailless Amphibia: the frogs, toads, salamanders and various extinct forms, but has excluded the caecilians.

Usage notes

• The French zoologist Pierre André Latreille coined the term Batrachia at the end of the 18th century; from that time to the mid 20th century it denoted the tailless amphibians, now the Anura, generally called the frogs and toads, as distinct from the tailed Amphibia: the Urodela, now Caudata.

Further reading

• Batrachia in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
• Batrachia on Wikipedia.Wikipedia