Vertebrate Diversity
Frogs and Toads
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Frog skeleton - dorsal view showing specialised morphology for jumping
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Frog skeleton - dorsal view showing urostyle and short, stiff vetebral column
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Features:
- A skeleton that is highly
modified for jumping (although many forms have altered these features to
specialise in other lifestyles, such as an aquatic or burrowing one):
- Elongate hind limbs, including
the ankle bones (tarsals) and foot bones (metatarsals and phalanges).
- A urostyle: a rod-like fusion
of the sacral vertebrae, running in parallel
with the extended iliac blades of the pelvis,
resulting in a strong, shock absorbing pelvic basket.
- Short, stiff vertebral column
(9 or less vertebrae proper) and no
ribs. This helps to stiffen the trunk, providing a solid path for the
transmission of thrust from the limbs when jumping, as well as
maintaining posture.
- Elongate hind limbs, including
the ankle bones (tarsals) and foot bones (metatarsals and phalanges).
- Short and flat head.
- No teeth on the dentary.
- Fused radius and ulna to form a compound
radio-ulna.
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