Osteology of the Myobatrachine Frog Arenophryne rotunda Tyler (Anura: Leptodactylidae) and Comparisons with other Myobatrachine Genera

Abstract

Cranial and post-cranial osteology of the headfirst-burrowing Australian myobatrachine frog, Arenophryne rotunda, are described and compared with the genera Myobatrachus, Pseudophryne, Uperoleia and Ranidella. Some anatomical features, such as the position of the nasal bones, the form of the occipital condyles and the orientation of the coracoids, are considered to be burrowing adaptations, whilst other features reflect phylogenetic affinities. The highly paedomorphic nature of the skull is unique among the genera examined.