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28 December 2007 MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION OF EGG AND CLUTCH STRUCTURE IN AMPHIBIANS
Ronald Altig, Roy W. McDiarmid
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Abstract

The first part of this synthesis summarizes the morphology of the jelly layers surrounding an amphibian ovum. We propose a standard terminology and discuss the evolution of jelly layers. The second part reviews the morphological diversity and arrangement of deposited eggs—the ovipositional mode; we recognize 5 morphological classes including 14 modes. We discuss some of the oviductal, ovipositional, and postovipositional events that contribute to these morphologies. We have incorporated data from taxa from throughout the world but recognize that other types will be discovered that may modify understanding of these modes. Finally, we discuss the evolutionary context of the diversity of clutch structure and present a first estimate of its evolution.

Ronald Altig and Roy W. McDiarmid "MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION OF EGG AND CLUTCH STRUCTURE IN AMPHIBIANS," Herpetological Monographs 21(1), 1-32, (28 December 2007). https://doi.org/10.1655/06-005.1
Published: 28 December 2007
KEYWORDS
Amphibia
clutch
eggs
evolution
Jelly layers
oviposition
ovulation
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