Developmental diversity of amphibians

Abstract

The current model amphibian, Xenopus laevis, develops rapidly in water to a tadpole which metamorphoses into a frog. Many amphibians deviate from the X. laevis developmental pattern. Among other adaptations, their embryos develop in foam nests on land or in pouches on their mother's back or on a leaf guarded by a parent. The diversity of developmental patterns includes multinucleated oogenesis, lack of RNA localization, huge non‐pigmented eggs, and asynchronous, irregular early cleavages. Variations in patterns of gastrulation highlight the modularity of this critical developmental period. Many species have eliminated the larva or tadpole and directly develop to the adult. The wealth of developmental diversity among amphibians coupled with the wealth of mechanistic information from X. laevis permit comparisons that provide deeper insights into developmental processes. WIREs Dev Biol 2012, 1:345–369. doi: 10.1002/wdev.23 This article is categorized under: Early Embryonic Development > Development to the Basic Body Plan Comparative Development and Evolution > Model Systems Comparative Development and Evolution > Evolutionary Novelties