[2] They are the sister taxon of the Dendrobatidae, the poison dart frogs, but are not as toxic as most dendrobatids are.

[5] However, their position as the sister taxa is well supported, and the question is primarily about whether they should be ranked as a family or a subfamily.

This strong odor is secreted through the skin but theses frogs are not toxic.

After hatching, one of the parents transports the tadpoles to a small water body, where they complete their development to metamorphosis.

[4] By late 2019, 126 species in three subfamilies and five genera had been described:[2] In addition, "Prostherapis" dunni Rivero, 1961 is placed in this family, but its more precise placement is unknown; it might be an Aromobates.