Discussions of the origin and evolution of the oral apparatus of anuran tadpoles

Abstract

Because studies of the oral apparatus of anuran tadpoles seem to be mired at the descriptive stage, a discussion based mostly on developmental concepts is presented as a primer to studies of developmental genetics and evolution. An oral configuration common among many ecomorphological guilds of anuran tadpoles is used as a morphological standard without ascribing evolutionary significance. Comments on the patterns of modifications of the jaw sheaths and labial teeth and other morphological patterns are presented