The evidentiary basis of the currently accepted classification of living amphibians is discussed and shown not to warrant the degree of authority conferred on it by use and tradition. A new taxonomy of living amphibians is proposed to correct the deficiencies of the old one. This new taxonomy is based on the largest phylogenetic analysis of living Amphibia so far accomplished. We combined the comparative anatomical character evidence of Haas (2003) with DNA sequences from the mitochondrial transcription unit H1 (12S and 16S ribosomal RNA and tRNAValine genes, ≈ 2,400 bp of mitochondrial sequences) and the nuclear genes histone H3, rhodopsin, tyrosinase, and seven in absentia, and the large ribosomal subunit 28S (≈ 2,300 bp of nuclear sequences; ca. 1.8 million base pairs; x = 3.7 kb/terminal). The dataset includes 532 terminals sampled from 522 species representative of the global diversity of amphibians as well as seven of the closest living relatives of amphibians for outgroup comparisons. The...

https://bioone.org/journals/Bulletin-of-the-American-Museum-of-Natural-History/volume-2006/issue-297/0003-0090(2006)297[0001:TATOL]2.0.CO;2/THE-AMPHIBIAN-TREE-OF-LIFE/10.1206/0003-0090(2006)297[0001:TATOL]2.0.CO;2.pdf

The amphibian tree of life

https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/cla.12160

TNT version 1.5, including a full implementation of phylogenetic morphometrics.

Hylidae is a large family of American, Australopapuan, and temperate Eurasian treefrogs of approximately 870 known species, divided among four subfamilies. Although some groups of Hylidae have been addressed phylogenetically, a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis has never been presented. The first goal of this paper is to review the current state of hylid systematics. We focus on the very large subfamily Hylinae (590 species), evaluate the monophyly of named taxa, and examine the evidential basis of the existing taxonomy. The second objective is to perform a phylogenetic analysis using mostly DNA sequence data in order to (1) test the monophyly of the Hylidae; (2) determine its constituent taxa, with special attention to the genera and species groups which form the subfamily Hylinae, and c) propose a new, monophyletic taxonomy consistent with the hypothesized relationships. We present a phylogenetic analysis of hylid frogs based on 276 terminals, including 228 hylids and 48 outgroup taxa. Includ...

/pdf/systematic-review-of-the-frog-family-hylidae-with-special-40f16i0lsj.pdf

Systematic review of the frog family hylidae, with special reference to hylinae: phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision

Body weight, length, and vocal tract length were measured for 23 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) of various sizes using radiographs and computer graphic techniques. Linear predictive coding analysis of tape-recorded threat vocalizations was used to determine vocal tract resonance frequencies (“formants”) for the same animals. A new acoustic variable is proposed, “formant dispersion,” which should theoretically depend upon vocal tract length. Formant dispersion is the averaged difference between successive formant frequencies, and was found to be closely tied to both vocal tract length and body size. Despite the common claim that voice fundamental frequency (F0)provides an acoustic indication of body size, repeated investigations have failed to support such a relationship in many vertebrate species including humans. Formant dispersion, unlike voice pitch, is proposed to be a reliable predictor of body size in macaques, and probably many other species.

/pdf/vocal-tract-length-and-formant-frequency-dispersion-2vtop2z15t.pdf

Vocal tract length and formant frequency dispersion correlate with body size in rhesus macaques

Female mate choice in treefrogs : static and dynamic acoustic criteria

Preface Acknowledgments List of Contributors Chapter 1. Introduction: The Tadpole Arena Roy W. McDiarmid and Ronald Altig Chapter 2. Research: Materials and Techniques Roy W. McDiarmid and Ronald Altig Chapter 3. Body Plan: Development and Morphology Ronald Altig and Roy W. McDiarmid Chapter 4. Architecture: Cranial and Axial Musculoskeleton David Cannatella Chapter 5. Anatomy: Viscera and Endocrines Bruno Viertel and Susanne Richter Chapter 6. Integration: Nervous and Sensory Systems Michael J. Lannoo Chapter 7. Endotrophic Anurans: Development and Evolution Giselle Thibaudeau and Ronald Altig Chapter 8. Physiology: Coping with the Environment Gordon R. Ultsch, David F. Bradford, and Joe Freda Chapter 9. Behavior: Interactions and Their Consequences Karin vS. Hoff, Andrew Blaustein, Roy W. McDiarmid, and Ronald Altig Chapter 10. Ecology: Resource Use, Competition, and Predation Ross A. Alford Chapter 11. The Anuran Tadpole: Evolution and Maintenance Reid N. Harris Chapter 12. Diversity: Familial and Generic Characterizations Ronald Altig and Roy W. McDiarmid Glossary Literature Cited Subject Index Taxonomic Index

Tadpoles : the biology of anuran larvae

Body plan: Development and morphology

Anurans show a distinct dichotomy among the sources of energy used during larval growth and development, endotrophy and exotrophy. This distinction allows more exact definitions of direct development, ovoviviparity, viviparity, and related terms. Endotrophic larvae, whether as a non-hatched embryo or a free-swimming, non-feeding tadpole, gain immediate developmental nutrition solely from parental sources, most frequently from the yolk allotted to each egg during vitellogenesis. Exotrophic larvae are always free-swimming, feeding tadpoles and orally consume numerous sources of energy not derived from a parent. The morphology of exotrophic tadpoles is surveyed with an emphasis on oral structures. Speculative scenarios and hypotheses concerning the functions of the various morphologies and the relationship of trophic structures to the ecology of the tadpoles are offered. Larval morphology and behavior permit the recognition of six developmental guilds of endotrophic larvae and 18 ecomorphological guilds of exotrophic larvae; these guilds are fully characterized.

Guilds of Anuran Larvae: Relationships among Developmental Modes, Morphologies, and Habitats

Summary
1. Understanding the trophic status of consumers in freshwater habitats is central to understanding their ecological roles and significance. Tadpoles are a diverse and abundant component of many freshwater habitats, yet we know relatively little about their feeding ecology and true trophic status compared with many other consumer groups. While many tadpole species are labelled herbivores or detritivores, there is surprisingly little evidence to support these trophic assignments.

2. Here we discuss shortcomings in our knowledge of the feeding ecology and trophic status of tadpoles and provide suggestions and examples of how we can more accurately quantify their trophic status and ecological significance.

3. Given the catastrophic amphibian declines that are ongoing in many regions of the planet, there is a sense of urgency regarding this information. Understanding the varied ecological roles of tadpoles will allow for more effective conservation of remaining populations, benefit captive breeding programmes, and allow for more accurate predictions of the ecological consequences of their losses.

http://fwf.ag.utk.edu/mgray/wfs493/Altigetal2007.pdf

Ronald Altig

Papers

Tadpoles : the biology of anuran larvae

Body plan: Development and morphology

Guilds of Anuran Larvae: Relationships among Developmental Modes, Morphologies, and Habitats

What do tadpoles really eat? Assessing the trophic status of an understudied and imperiled group of consumers in freshwater habitats

Behavior: Interactions and their consequences