Int. J. Dev. Biol. 65: 171 - 176 (2021)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.190386re

Vol 65, Issue 1-2-3

Special Issue: Developmental Biology in Ibero-America - Part 1

Development of a non-amphibious amphibian - an interview with a coquí

Published: 20 August 2020

Richard P. Elinson*

Huntington, NY, USA

Abstract

Development without a free-living tadpole is common among Ibero American frogs. The most derived condition is direct development where the tadpole has been eliminated, and the most investigated direct developing frog is Eleutherodactylus coqui. To provide a different point-of-view, an imaginary interview with a coqui is conducted. Opinions are offered on invasive species, developmental features that are surprisingly conserved, and novelty in germ layer specification.

Keywords

metamorphosis, amniote evolution, invasive species, EvoDevo, fate map, yolk