Brook Floater vs Cliffy Stream Frog

Alasmidonta varicosa compared with Craugastor rupinius

Key Differences

• Brook Floater is Vulnerable while Cliffy Stream Frog is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Brook Floater	Cliffy Stream Frog
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Mollusca (Mollusks)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Bivalvia (Bivalvia)	Amphibia (Amphibians)
Order	Unionida (Unionida)	Anura (Frogs & Toads)
Family	Unionidae	Craugastoridae
Genus	Alasmidonta	Craugastor
Species	Alasmidonta varicosa	Craugastor rupinius

Evolutionary Relationship

Brook Floater and Cliffy Stream Frog share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Brook Floater

VU — Vulnerable

Cliffy Stream Frog

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Brook Floater	Cliffy Stream Frog
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Brook Floater

Habitat

Native to North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in United States. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Cliffy Stream Frog

Habitat

Typically found in freshwater habitats, moist forests, and wetlands.

Range

Found in Mexico.

Brook Floater

The Brook Floater (Alasmidonta varicosa) is a species in the genus Alasmidonta. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Native to North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Cliffy Stream Frog

The Cliffy Stream Frog, Litoria phyllochroa, is a small, slender tree frog in the family Hylidae endemic to southeastern Australia, occurring in New South Wales and Victoria. It inhabits fast-flowing, rocky streams in forested gorges, cliff-sided creek valleys, and the rocky stream courses of the Great Dividing Range and adjacent ranges. The species is well adapted to the rocky stream environment, clinging to moist cliff faces and boulders using enlarged toe pads and spending much of its time on wet, vertical surfaces near cascades and fast riffles. Adults are relatively small, typically 30–40 mm in length, and are greenish-brown above with a pale lateral stripe, blending into the rocky, mossy stream substrate. Males call from rocky perches near the water's edge, producing a repeated clicking or ticking call. The species breeds in fast-flowing sections of mountain streams, with tadpoles adapted to strong currents through enlarged oral suckers. Stream frogs in Australia have been severely affected by chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which has driven many mountain stream species to extinction or severe decline. Litoria phyllochroa is currently listed as Least Concern but faces ongoing threats from disease, drought, and climate change affecting streamflow in the ranges.