Amphibia

B.Sc. 2nd Year Zoology

Prepared By Prince Rai
Parental Care In Amphibians

Class By Prince Dai

Parental Care In Amphibians
Looking after the eggs and young ones until their independence and to defend
from predators is called parental care.

Prince Rai
Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians
• In comparison to birds and mammals, little parental care is found in amphibians.

•Amphibians have following characters necessary for continuation of their races -

They produce large numbers of ova and spermatozoa.

Parents-either male or female hold the fertilized eggs in the body for giving special care.

They provide nest and shelter to protect the eggs from adverse environmental condition.

Sometimes parents give direct protection to young ones by hiding them in buccal cavity,

vocal sacs, etc.

Prince Rai
Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians

• The method of caring in amphibians fall

under two categories:

1. Protection by nests, nurseries or shelters

2. Direct caring by parents and

development in oviducts.

Prince Rai
Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians
1. Protection by nests, nurseries or shelters
: Some amphibians lay their
eggs in safe and moist land, very near to
water.

Gyrinophilus eggs (Stones Under Streams) FOAM NEST OF Rhacophorus schlegli of Japan

Hylodes (Leaves Hanging above water)

Prince Rai
Triton (Glue with aq. weeds)
Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians
• Frothing of water

In Rhacophorus maculates, after the eggs are laid, surrounding

water is made frothy by the limb movement, which prevents the
eggs from desiccation and escaping from the eyes of the predators.

Rhacophorus maculates

Prince Rai
Conceptual Biology
 Parental Care In Amphibians

Hyla faber (Mud Nest) Phyllomedusa hypochondrales (Leaf nest) Triton ( Shoot Test)

Mud nest– Hyla faber digs small holes in the mud for deposition and development of eggs.
Leaf Nest – In a South American tree frog Phyllomedusa hypochondrales, the margin of the
leaves are folded and glued together which acts as a nest for the eggs.
Prince Rai
Shoot Nest – Triton constructs the nest by fixing the shoots with a gelatinous secretion. Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians
• 2. Direct caring by parents and development in oviducts.

Female Ichthyphis (Coiling of eggs) Female Amphiuma (Coiling of eggs) Male Megalobatrachus maximus (Coiling of eggs)

Japanese
giant Prince Rai
salamander Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians

Males of green frog Rana clamitans defend their eggs by not

allowing small-sized intruders in their territories.

Males of Mantophryne robusta

hold with hands a cluster of eggs
in a gelatinous envelope.

Rana clamitans defend their eggs

Prince Rai
Mantophryne sp. Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians

Phylobates carrying tadpoles on its back Male Poison Dart Frog Carrying tadpoles on its back

Phylobates, Pelobates species inhabiting

tropical Africa and South America hold
the newly hatched tadpoles with their
Prince Rai
mouth and transport them to water. Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians

Eggs glued to hind limbs of Alytes obstericans Eggs glued to body of Salamander Desmognathus fuscus

Prince Rai
Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians

Phyllomedusa back pouch Female Pipa pipa carrying eggs on back Flectonotus pygmaeus
(Nototrema = Marsupial Frogs)
In Hyla geoldii, the females carry the eggs on their backs.
In Desmognathus, the females carry the eggs and live in an underground hole.
In Pipa pipa, the eggs are carried by females on the back.
In Cryptobatrachus evansi the dorsal skin contains many small pockets for lodging of eggs.
In Pipa dorsigera, the egss are developed in pits on the back of the females. Embryonic development Prince Rai
occurs within the pits and physiological exchange takes place between the females and the larva.
Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians

Surinam toad birth

Note : Watch Surinam toad birth only if you’re not Trypopbobiac

Prince Rai
Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians

Rhinoderma darwinii

South American male frog Rhinoderma darwinii keeps fertilized

eggs in his vocal sacs where they undergo complete
development. Prince Rai
Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians

Gular Pouch In Female Rheobatrachus silus (Australian Frog)

Prince Rai
Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians
• VIVIPARITY

Salamandra maculosa

Salamandra atra aurorae

Prince Rai
Conceptual Biology
Parental Care In Amphibians
Ovo - viviparity

Gymnopis (Ovoviviparity)
Pseudophryne sps.

Nectophryne tornieri
•Example: Some salamanders - aquatic larva with external gills, terrestrial adult with reduced gills or no gills.

Metamorphosis
It’s the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages.

In amphibians, metamorphosis is associated in typical cases with a transition from an aquatic to a terrestrial mode of life.

Types of Metamorphosis:

1) Progressive Metamorphosis

Definition: Gradual development with distinct stages showing significant changes in form and behavior.

Example: Frog - egg, tadpole (aquatic larva with gills), metamorphosing tadpole (developing legs and lungs), adult frog (terrestrial with lungs).

2) Retrogressive Metamorphosis

Definition: Development with stages that return to a simpler form, losing complex features.

Class By Prince Dai

Class By Prince Dai
Hormonal Control on Metamorphosis
 Neoteny
Neoteny:

Definition: Neoteny is a process where an organism reaches adulthood but retains juvenile traits in its appearance.

Mechanism: It occurs due to a slowing of somatic (body) development compared to reproductive development.

Example: Axolotl - remains in a larval form even as an adult with external gills and fins.

Class By Prince Dai

 Neoteny : Mechanism
Mechanism of Neoteny:

1.Slower Somatic Development: The physical development of the body structures, such as limbs and facial
features, progresses at a slower rate than usual.
2.Faster Reproductive Development: The reproductive system matures more rapidly, allowing the organism to
reach sexual maturity earlier.
3.Retention of Juvenile Traits: Due to the slower somatic development, certain juvenile traits persist into
adulthood, leading to the appearance of juvenile characteristics in adult individuals.
4.Hormonal Regulation: Hormones play a critical role in coordinating the developmental processes and are
responsible for the timing and rate of maturation in different parts of the body.
5.Genetic and Evolutionary Factors: The genetic makeup of the organism and evolutionary pressures may
influence the occurrence of neoteny, allowing certain traits to persist due to their benefits in specific environments
or reproductive strategies.

Class By Prince Dai

 Paedomorphosis (Paedogenesis)
Paedomorphosis (Paedogenesis):

Definition: Paedomorphosis is a process where an organism becomes sexually mature while still in its juvenile or larval form.

Mechanism: It happens when reproductive development accelerates faster than somatic development.

Example: Mudpuppies - attain sexual maturity while retaining their larval characteristics, like external gills and an aquatic lifestyle.

Class By Prince Dai

 Paedogenesis : Mechanism
Mechanism of Paedomorphosis (Paedogenesis):

 Accelerated Reproductive Development: In paedomorphosis, the reproductive

system matures at a faster rate compared to the somatic (body) development.

 Delayed or Inhibited Somatic Development: While the reproductive development

accelerates, the development of somatic structures, such as limbs or other body
features, may be delayed or inhibited.

 Retention of Juvenile Traits: Due to the faster reproductive development and slower
somatic development, certain juvenile traits characteristic of the larval or juvenile
stage are retained into adulthood.

 Environmental and Genetic Factors: The occurrence of paedomorphosis can be

influenced by environmental conditions, availability of resources, and genetic factors
that affect the timing and rate of development.

 Adaptation and Evolution: Paedomorphosis can provide advantages in certain

ecological niches or habitats, allowing the organism to exploit resources effectively,
avoid predators, or optimize reproductive strategies.
Class By Prince Dai
 Neoteny V/S Paedogenesis
Neoteny:
Definition: Organism reaches adulthood but retains juvenile traits.
Example: Axolotl - keeps larval features like gills even as an adult.

Paedomorphosis:
Definition: Organism becomes sexually mature while still in a juvenile form.
Example: Mudpuppies - reach maturity as aquatic larvae with gills.

Class By Prince Dai

Diversity and Distribution of Amphibians In Nepal

Class By Prince Dai

Diversity and Distribution of Amphibians In Nepal

Class By Prince Dai

Diversity and Distribution of Amphibians In Nepal

Class By Prince Dai

Class By Prince Dai