The Family Brachycephalidae consists of small, often brightly colored frogs commonly known as saddleback or pumpkin toads, primarily found in southeastern Brazil. These frogs are notable for their tiny size, with some species among the world’s smallest vertebrates, and for their direct development, meaning they hatch from eggs as miniature adults without a free-living tadpole stage. Brachycephalids typically inhabit leaf litter in forests, are terrestrial, and feed on tiny invertebrates. Many species exhibit cryptic coloration or aposematic (warning) colors to deter predators, and several are of conservation concern due to habitat loss and fragmentation.