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Evolution of forelimb movement patterns for prey manipulation in anurans
L A Gray1, J C O'Reilly, K C Nishikawa
1Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff 86011-5640, USA.
The Journal of Experimental Zoology
|April 15, 1997
Summary
Frogs use their forelimbs for feeding, with primitive behaviors like scooping and wiping common. More specialized grasping evolved in arboreal frogs, sometimes replacing tongue use for prey capture.
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Frogs (anurans) uniquely utilize forelimbs for prey capture and manipulation, unlike most amphibians.
- Understanding the evolution of these forelimb behaviors provides insight into anuran feeding strategies and adaptations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary patterns of forelimb movement during feeding across diverse anuran taxa.
- To identify and classify distinct forelimb behaviors used in prey capture and transport.
Main Methods:
- High-speed videography was employed to record feeding events in 488 individuals from 104 species.
- Behavioral data were mapped onto current anuran phylogenetic hypotheses.
- Maximum parsimony analyses were used to infer the evolutionary history of feeding behaviors.
Main Results:
- Five distinct forelimb behaviors were identified: scooping, wiping, prey stretching, grasping, and grasping with wrist rotation.
- Scooping and wiping appear to be ancestral behaviors retained in many frog lineages.
- Grasping behaviors evolved primarily in arboreal species, suggesting climbing ability as a preadaptation; some species use grasping instead of tongues.
Conclusions:
- Forelimb feeding behaviors in frogs exhibit diverse evolutionary trajectories, with some primitive traits persisting and others evolving convergently or in association with arboreal lifestyles.
- The study highlights the functional morphology and evolutionary plasticity of frog feeding mechanisms.