| The metamorphic fate of supernumerary caudal vertebrae in South Asian litter frogs (Anura: Megophryidae). | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 17559539 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Tadpoles of the Megophryidae, a South Asian family of litter frogs, are unique among anurans by virtue of their expanded caudal skeletons, which include supernumerary vertebral centra. The number of these vertebrae varies widely within the family, with tadpoles of Leptobrachella having as many as 30 and Leptolalax only five. Vertebral morphology is also quite variable, ranging from complete, perichordal centra to fragmentary ossifications. This variation in the caudal osteology of larval megophryids, however, is not manifested in the adult morphology. Post-metamorphic litter frogs have a typical anuran axial skeleton, invariably comprising eight presacral vertebrae, a single sacral vertebra and, postsacrally, the urostyle. To resolve this incongruity between life phases and to determine the precise metamorphic fate of supernumerary caudal vertebrae in megophryids, we examined metamorphic specimens from the genera Leptobrachella, Leptolalax, Ophryophryne and Megophrys. In all four, the caudal larval skeleton undergoes massive reduction, leaving only the coccyx and hypochord untouched. Caudal centra are apparently degraded by osteoclasts, which have not previously been implicated in vertebral remodelling during anuran metamorphosis. In Megophrys and Ophryophryne metamorphs, presacral centra also undergo resorption, consistent with an epichordal mode of centrum formation. The conservation of megophryid adult axial osteology in the face of extensive larval skeletal diversity reveals the role of metamorphosis in constraining anuran morphology. |
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Authors:
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Gregory R Handrigan; Richard J Wassersug |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2007-06-08 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of anatomy Volume: 211 ISSN: 0021-8782 ISO Abbreviation: J. Anat. Publication Date: 2007 Sep |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2007-09-12 Completed Date: 2007-12-10 Revised Date: 2009-11-18 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0137162 Medline TA: J Anat Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 271-9 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. gregory.handrigan@gmail.com |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Larva / anatomy & histology, physiology Metamorphosis, Biological / physiology* Ranidae / anatomy & histology*, physiology* Spine / anatomy & histology*, physiology Tail / anatomy & histology, physiology |
| Comments/Corrections | |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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