Landing in basal frogs: evidence of saltational patterns in the evolution of anuran locomotion.

Die Naturwissenschaften
Richard L EssnerStephen M Reilly

Abstract

All frogs are assumed to jump in a similar manner by rapidly extending hindlimbs during the propulsive phase and rotating the limbs forward during flight in order to land forelimbs first. However, studies of jumping behavior are lacking in the most primitive living frogs of the family Leiopelmatidae. These semi-aquatic or terrestrial anurans retain a suite of plesiomorphic morphological features and are unique in using an asynchronous (trot-like) rather than synchronous "frog-kick" swimming gait of other frogs. We compared jumping behavior in leiopelmatids to more derived frogs and found that leiopelmatids maintain extended hindlimbs throughout flight and landing phases and do not land on adducted forelimbs. These "belly-flop" landings limit the ability for repeated jumps and are consistent with a riparian origin of jumping in frogs. The unique behavior of leiopelmatids shows that frogs evolved jumping before they perfected landing. Moreover, an inability to rapidly cycle the limbs may provide a functional explanation for the absence of synchronous swimming in leiopelmatids.

References

Feb 1, 1994·Biulleten' eksperimental'noĭ biologii i meditsiny·S V Savel'evV I Gulimova
Dec 16, 2005·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Sandra Nauwelaerts, Peter Aerts
Mar 6, 2007·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Rob S JamesAnthony Herrel
May 24, 2007·Systematic Biology·David Marjanović, Michel Laurin
Jan 27, 2009·Journal of Anatomy·Tomás PrikrylZbynek Rocek
Mar 1, 1966·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Carl Gans, Thomas S Parsons
Jan 1, 1989·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·William R Rice
Nov 1, 1980·Journal of Morphology·Sharon B Emerson, H J De Jongh

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 31, 2014·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Gary GillisEmanuel Azizi
Dec 30, 2015·Journal of Morphology·Stephen M ReillyRichard L Essner
Jan 25, 2016·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·Nienke N BijmaThomas Kleinteich
Oct 10, 2015·Behavioural Processes·Stephen ReillyPhillip J Bishop
Jan 5, 2013·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Diego SustaitaAnthony Herrel
Mar 21, 2013·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·M E Jorgensen, S M Reilly
Jun 10, 2017·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution·Marissa FabreziMariana Chuliver Pereyra
Mar 14, 2018·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological and Integrative Physiology·Koushun KamadaHideki Nakagawa
Mar 24, 2018·Journal of Morphology·Virginia AbdalaAnthony Herrel
Feb 20, 2019·Journal of Morphology·Ryan D Didde, Gabriel Rivera
Jan 10, 2020·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Suzanne M Cox, Gary B Gillis
Jan 14, 2017·Royal Society Open Science·Cameron M HudsonRichard Shine
May 22, 2019·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological and Integrative Physiology·Michelle Graham, John J Socha
Nov 22, 2020·Zoology : Analysis of Complex Systems, ZACS·Tamara G PetrovićNataša Tomašević Kolarov
Apr 14, 2021·Journal of Biomechanics·Jingcheng XiaoXiaojun Yang
Aug 9, 2015·The Journal of Experimental Biology·S M Cox, Gary B Gillis
Oct 17, 2014·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Emanuel AziziNicole Danos
Sep 6, 2014·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Pavla Robovska-HavelkovaAnthony Herrel

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.