Ontogenetic diversity and early development of frogs in the South American family Cycloramphidae

Abstract

Literature describing peculiarities of development in cycloramphid frogs is reviewed. This study reports data on sizes and pigmentation of eggs, the morphology of early cleavage, sites of embryo and tadpole development (in water or on land), larval nutrition (exotrophic or endotrophic), and the occurrence of brooding. Despite the moderate number of species, this family is ontogenetically diverse, with repeated modifications of ontogenesis. The focus is on the development of frogs in the genus Rhinoderma, the early cleaving embryos of which are less modified than early embryos of many other frogs. The peculiarities of development in the family Cycloramphidae are compared with those in representatives of other families of anurans.