Q13 - Reproduction in Amphibians

Question 1

What is involved in anuran and urodele courtship?

Answer 1

Anurans - vocalisations, no visual cues

Urodeles - females attracted to large crested males, pheromones from male stimulate female. These are released into the water, rubbed on the female (gland on chin) and encouraged into female blood by scratching

Question 2

How are eggs fertilised in anurans?

Answer 2

Externally - spermatophore deposited onto eggs as they are released

Question 3

What does copulation consist of in anurans?

What does this do?

Answer 3

Amplexus - male grasps the female

Allows for external fertilisation and prevents competition

Question 4

What aids in amplexus in anurans?

Answer 4

Nuptial pads on male forelimbs improves grip

Question 5

How are eggs fertilised in urodeles?

Answer 5

Internally - male spermatophore is deposited on substrate and the female picks it up via the cloaca

Question 6

Why do some urodeles display amplexus?

Answer 6

Allows pheromone transference and prevents competition

Question 7

What does copulation consist of in urodeles?

What does this do?

Answer 7

Tail-nudging walk - female walks behind the male straddling his tail

Ensures that the female picks up the spermatophore as there is direct contact