Which frog family includes most tree frogs?

The frog family that includes most of the classic tree frogs is Hylidae.

Hylidae is commonly known as the family of tree frogs and their allies. Many hylids are adapted for climbing, with adhesive pads on their fingers and toes that help them grip leaves, bark and branches. Forward-facing eyes in several species also support depth perception during an arboreal lifestyle.

The family includes familiar frogs such as the European tree frog, gray tree frog and American green tree frog. Hylids occupy temperate and tropical regions across the Americas, Eurasia and Australia. Their breeding strategies vary: some lay eggs in ponds, while others use tree holes, bromeliads, leaf surfaces or fast-flowing streams.

The wording can cause confusion because “tree frog” is not a strict taxonomic name. Tree frogs have evolved independently in several lineages, including Rhacophoridae, Centrolenidae and Hyperoliidae. Thus Hylidae contains the classic or “true” tree frogs, but not every frog called a tree frog belongs to this family.

Some hylids are not tree-dwellers at all. Certain members are terrestrial, semiaquatic or burrowing, showing how common names can be broader than family boundaries.