Embryonic ontogeny of three species of Horned Frogs, with a review of early development in Ceratophryidae.

摘要: Horned Frogs of the family Ceratophryidae are conspicuous anurans represented by three endemic South American genera. Most ceratophryids inhabit semiarid environments, but species Ceratophrys occupy tropical or temperate humid areas. Several morphological and behavioral characters larvae adults conserved across family. Based on examination specimens accounts in literature, embryonic development C. ornata, cranwelli, monotypic genus Chacophrys described compared with that Lepidobatrachus. Ceratophryid embryos share a suite features heterochronic shifts during development. features, such as gill structure, ciliation, early hatching, precocious differentiation gut hind limbs, shared all regardless differences habitats occupy. This is consistent previous observations some adult characters, likely supports hypothesis an diversification environments. Other morphology ontogeny oral disc digestive tract, correlated larval feeding habits vary within The evolutionary ecological significance (e.g., gastrulation pattern, Type-A adhesive glands) other taxon-specific nasal appendix) remain to be explored group.