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The integumentary, pulmonary, and cardiac modifications correlated with increased cutaneous respiration in the amphibia: A solution of the ‘hairy frog’ problem
Author(s) -
Noble G. K.
Publication year - 1925
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1050400206
Subject(s) - biology , anatomy , respiration , integumentary system , epidermis (zoology) , auricle
Astylosternus robustus has greatly reduced lungs. All Amphibia exhibiting such a reduction have their epidermis either penetrated by capillaries or thinned to facilitate greater cutaneous respiration. The epidermis of both sexes of A. robustus is penetrated by capillaries. The «hairs» of the adult male are merely extensions of this vasculated epidermis to compensate for the greater muscularity, size, and activity of this sex. The digits of terrestrial urodeles do not serve as special centers of cutaneous respiration. Digital sinuses are present in all urodeles. The abdominal and femoral tubercles of arboreal and some terrestrial frogs may function greatly in respiration, for their epidermis is penetrated by capillaries. All urodeles and frogs having well‐developed and frequently emptied lungs possess a functionally complete auricular septum and a spiral valve. Injection experiments demonstrate a complete separation of arterial and venous blood in living specimens. A reduction of the lungs conditions a reduction of the left auricle, but disuse causes no change in size. A great decrease of the lungs, or even a disuse of them, conditions a fenestration of the auricular septum and a loss of the spiral valve. The spiral valve is formed by a backward growth of one of the synangial valves and is not homologous with the accessory valves of dipnoans. Lungless salamanders have no left auricle and no spiral valve.