Synopsis
The Cape chirping frog, Arthroleptella lightfooti, has a type of direct development in which nonfeeding larval stages undergo an early metamorphosis resulting in the rapid attainment of the adult form. Precocious metamorphosis may be the result of the precocious activation of the same neuro-endocrine mechanisms known to regulate metamorphosis in species having free-living larvae. Alternatively there is evidence that during the course of evolution, metamorphosis in species with direct development has become largely independent of thyroid control. In this study we investigate this problem by comparing the timing of development of the median eminence in A. lightfooti relative to the timing of metamorphosis. The resulting data allow a comparison of the role of the median eminence during metamorphosis to be made between A. lightfooti and Xenopus laevis (a frog with free-living larvae). The results suggest that the brain — pituitary — thyroid axis is involved in the control of metamorphosis in A. lightfooti.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Allen, B.M. 1925. The effects of extirpation of the thyroid and pituitary glands upon the limb development of anurans. J. Exp. Zool. 42: 13–30.
Brink, H.E. 1936. Annals of the University of Stellenbosch, Ser. A. 14: 1–111. (In Afrikaans).
Brink, H.E. 1939. A histological and cytological investigation of the thyroids of Arthroleptella bicolor villiersi and Bufo angusticeps during normal and accelerated metamorphosis. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. 151: 120–125.
Dent, J.N. 1968. Survey of amphibian metamorphosis, pp. 271–311. In: W. Etkin & L.I. Gilbert (ed.) Metamorphosis: A Problem in Developmental Biology, Appleton, New York.
De Villiers, C.G.S. 1923. The development of a species of Arthroleptella from Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch. S. Afr. J. Sci. 26: 481–510.
Dodd, J.M. & A.J. Matty. 1964. Comparative aspects of thyroid function, pp. 303–356. In: R. Pitt-Rivers & W.R. Trotter (ed.) The Thyroid Gland, Volume 1, Butterworths, London.
Dodd, M.H.I. & J.M. Dodd. 1976. The biology of metamorphosis, pp. 467–599. In: J.A. Moore (ed.) Physiology of the Amphibia, vol. 3, Academic Press, New York.
Duellman, W.E. & L. Trueb. 1986. Biology of amphibians. McGraw-Hill, New York. 670 pp.
Etkin, W. 1963. Metamorphosis-activating system of the frog. Science 139: 810–814.
Etkin, W. 1964. Metamorphosis, pp. 427–468. In: J.A. Moore (ed.) Physiology of the Amphibia, Academic Press, New York.
Fox, H. 1962. Growth and degeneration of the pronephric system of Rana temporaria. J. Embryol. Exp. Morph. 10: 103–114.
Goos, H.J. Th., A. de Knecht & J. de Vries. 1968. Hypothalamic neurosecretion and metamorphosis in Xenopus laevis. I. The effects of propylthiouracil. Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 86: 384–392.
Gorbman, A. 1964. Endocrinology of the Amphibia, pp. 371–425. In: J.A. Moore (ed.) Physiology of the Amphibia, Academic Press, New York.
Gosner, K.L. 1960. A simplified table for staging anuran embryos and larvae with notes on identification. Herpetologia 16: 183–190.
Hughes, A. 1966. The thyroid and the development of the nervous system in Eleutherodactylus martinicencis: an experimental study. J. Embryol. Exp. Morph. 16: 401–430.
Just, J.J., J. Kraus-Just & D.A. Check. 1981. Survey of chordate metamorphosis, pp. 265–326. In: L.I. Gilbert & E. Frieden (ed.) Metamorphosis: A Problem in Developmental Biology, Plenum Press, New York.
Kemp, N.E. 1961. Replacement of the larval basement lamella by adult-type basement membrane in anuran skin during metamorphosis. Dev. Biol. 3: 391–410.
Lutz, B. 1948. Ontogenetic evolution in frogs. Evolution 2: 29–39.
Lynn, W.G. 1961. Types of amphibian metamorphosis. Amer. Zool. 1: 151–161.
Lynn, W.G. & A.M. Peadon. 1955. The role of the thyroid gland in direct development in the anuran, Eleutherodactylus martinicensis. Growth 19: 263–286.
Nieuwkoop, P.D. & J. Faber. 1956. Normal table of Xenopus laevis Daudin. North-Holland, Amsterdam. 252 pp.
Rosenkilde, P. 1979. The thyroid hormones in Amphibia, pp. 437–491. In: E.J.W. Barrington (ed.) Hormones and Evolution, Academic Press, London.
Rosenkilde, P. 1985. The role of hormones in the regulation of amphibian metamorphosis. pp. 221–259. In: M. Balls & M. Bownes (ed.) Metamorphosis, British Society for Developmental Biology, 8th Symposium, Nottingham, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
White, B.A. & C.S. Nicoll. 1981. Hormonal control of amphibian metamorphosis, pp. 363–396. In: L.I. Gilbert & E. Frieden (ed.) Metamorphosis: A Problem in Developmental Biology, Plenum Press, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Morgan, B.E., Passmore, N.I., Fabian, B.C. (1989). Metamorphosis in the frog Arthroleptella lightfooti (Anura, Ranidae) with emphasis on neuro-endocrine mechanisms. In: Bruton, M.N. (eds) Alternative Life-History Styles of Animals. Perspectives in vertebrate science, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2605-9_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2605-9_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7675-3
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2605-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive