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Gigantism in tadpoles of the Neogene frog Palaeobatrachus
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SYSNO ASEP 0051239 Document Type J - Journal Article R&D Document Type Journal Article Subsidiary J Článek ve WOS Title Gigantism in tadpoles of the Neogene frog Palaeobatrachus Title Gigantism in tadpoles of the Neogene frog Palaeobatrachus Author(s) Roček, Zbyněk (GLU-S) SAI, RID
Böttcher, R. (DE)
Wassersug, R. (CA)Source Title Paleobiology - ISSN 0094-8373
Roč. 32, č. 4 (2006), s. 666-675Number of pages 10 s. Language eng - English Country US - United States Keywords Amphibia ; Anura ; Neogene ; Germany ; development Subject RIV EG - Zoology R&D Projects IAA3013206 GA AV ČR - Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (AV ČR) CEZ AV0Z30130516 - GLU-S (2005-2011) UT WOS 000242037500008 EID SCOPUS 33845303512 DOI 10.1666/05073.1 Annotation We describe three giant palaeobatrachid fossil tadpoles of the genus Palaeobatrachus from the Miocene of Randecker Maar, Germany. The largest was 150 mm at the beginning of metamorphosis (stage 60), whereas the smallest was 100 mm and approaching the end of metamorphosis (stage 64). In contrast, normal palaeobatrachid tadpoles and their pipid relatives, both extinct and extant, rarely exceed 60 mm in length. We review here both ecological and pathological conditions that are conducive to the development of gigantism in tadpoles. Tadpoles that lack a thyroid gland become exceptionally large and arrest development at early hindlimb stages (NF stages 53–56). However, the advanced metamorphic stages of the giant Palaeobatrachus tadpoles indicate that they were able to metamorphose, and thus were not athyroid. Environmental factors—pond size and permanence, predators, duration of the growing season— may all contribute to tadpole gigantism in certain extant anuran species. Workplace Institute of Geology Contact Jana Popelková, popelkova@gli.cas.cz, Sabina Janíčková, Tel.: 233 087 272 Year of Publishing 2007
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