Anurans (frogs) Flashcards
What is the distribution of anurans? What is their diet?
Worldwide distribution, they are carnivorous predators and they are herbivorous as tadpoles
What are some diagnostic features of Anurans? (7)
- Development involves metamorphosis from tadpole into adult with distinct appearance
- Large eyes with binocular vision
- Short vertebral column before pelvis which is braced by zygapophyses
- Robust pectoral girdle and forelimbs to absorb impact of jumping
- Elongate pelvis with caudal vertebrae fused into a urostyle
- Hindlimb elongated with fused tibia and fibula
- Feet often webbed
How to anurans locomote in a terrestrial versus aquatic environment?
Terrestrial environment: walking with little undulation, jumping and hopping due to their hinge like iliosacral joint
Aquatic: kicking legs to propel forwards
What are the 7 clades of frogs we must know?
Scaphiopodidae, Hylidae, Pipidae, Dendrobatidae, Bufonidae, Ranidae, Rhacophoridae
What are some features of Scaphiopodidae? (4)
Vertical pupil is common, no parotoid gland, stout and small limbs, tough keratinized pad on feet (spade)
What are some features of Pipidae? (7)
Depressed body shape, reduced pelvic girdle, eyes placed dorsally, highly aquatic, no tongue, well developed interdigit webbing on hind limb, pathology may be induced by constructions (habitat)
What are some features of Hylidae? (5)
Small body size, eyes forward, widespread, mostly arboreal, round/bulbous/ sticky pads on digits (increases adhesion through surface tension and viscosity)
What are some features of Rhacophoridae? (3) What other clade do they share some features with?
Similar to Hylidae, small body size, eyes mostly forward, same toepads as Hylids
What are some features of Dendrobatidae? (4) What type of toxin do they have?
Small size, digits with thick pads in males, aposematic coloration, may produce high toxin levels. They have Batrachotoxin which is a type of alkaloid toxin from preys
What are some features of Bufonidae? (5)
True toads, warty skin, prominent parotoid gland, stout and short limbs, walk instead of hop, lack teeth (?)
What are some features of Ranidae? (7)
Smooth skin, no parotoid gland, prominent dorsolateral ridges, worldwide distribution, elongated/pointy rostrum, distinct tympanum, long hindlimb that’s good for hopping
What are some reproductive strategies in frogs?
External fertilization, complex courtship where they use their large repertoire of sounds from their vocal sac, changes in color in mating season, nest builders, egg guards and baby carriers
