Morphological diversity and evolution of egg and clutch structure in amphibians

Herpetological Monographs
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Abstract

The first part of this synthesis summarizes the morphology of the jelly layers surrounding an amphibian ovum. We propose a standard terminology and discuss the evolution of jelly layers. The second part reviews the morphological diversity and arrangement of deposited eggs?the ovipositional mode; we recognize 5 morphological classes including 14 modes. We discuss some of the oviductal, ovipositional, and postovipositional events that contribute to these morphologies. We have incorporated data from taxa from throughout the world but recognize that other types will be discovered that may modify understanding of these modes. Finally, we discuss the evolutionary context of the diversity of clutch structure and present a first estimate of its evolution.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Morphological diversity and evolution of egg and clutch structure in amphibians
Series title Herpetological Monographs
DOI 10.1655/06-005.1
Volume 21
Issue 1
Year Published 2007
Language English
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description 32 p.
First page 1
Last page 32
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