#Skeleton neck diagrams pdf#

Frogs move more safely because of their shorter, rigid spine and lack of a neck. A neck would make the frog vulnerable while jumping, just as a tail would get in the way when jumping (which is why frogs have lost their tails and developed a urostyle).Ī wrong turn of the head could result in a broken neck and death. They are also unable to raise or lower their heads.Īctually, a frog’s body is perfectly designed for jumping.

Frogs and toads cannot turn their heads because they lack a neck. The neck is a skeletal structure found in most vertebrates but not in frogs. The entire backbone serves to protect the spinal cord. Their embryonic development produces vertebrae that appear to be hollowed out on the front and at the back or on one side only. The urostyle is a long, thin bone extended off the bases of the vertebral column.įrogs don’t have “true joints” between the vertebrae. Seen directly after the ninth vertebra is the Urostyle. In between the first, eighth, and ninth vertebra are the “typical vertebra” which are aptly named due to their similarities in structure. This includes the Atlas, which is the first vertebrae, and the Sacral Vertebra which is the last.Īs far as similarities go, the first, eighth, and ninth vertebra have a different shape than the others. The vertebral column of frogs contains up to 10 vertebrae. A Frog’s Vertebral Column (Backbone) The vertebral column (backbone) of a frog. If an animal were to bite down on the skull of this frog, the spines could pierce the predator effectively injecting them with the powerful toxins in their skin. Bruno’s frog secrets a toxin more powerful than that of a pit vipor. In this case, the abnormal amount of bone serves as a defense mechanism. Bruno’s Casque-headed Frog (Aparasphenodon brunoi) Photo by: Renato Augusto Martins Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0 ) The head appears smooth from the outside but underneath the skin, both frogs have tiny spines on their skull – primarily around their nostrils. In some instances, as you’re about to learn, that’s not the case.īruno’s casque-headed frog (Aparasphenodon brunoi) and Greening’s Frog (Corythomantis greeningi) are two prime examples of hyperossification of a frog’s skull. Adult Amazon Horned Frogs, commonly known as “Pacman Frogs”, are capable of swallowing small animals like lizards, other frogs, snakes, and even birds.įrogs have seemingly smooth skulls from the outside. Having that ability helps ensure their survival. The large skull, accompanied by a wide jaw, gives them the ability to eat larger prey. They have a rather large skull in proportion to their body (see the picture above). Skeleton of an Amazon Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cornuta) Photo by: Mokele Wikimedia (CC BY 3.0)Ī good example of this is seen in the Amazon Horned Frog. Hyperossification is the formation of more bone material than what is typical. Jaws – The upper and lower jaws support the border of the mouth.Īccord to researchers, Anurans (frogs and toads) have evolved hyperossification at least 25 times.Sense Capsules – Cartilaginous cavities which contain the sensory organs: eyes, nose, etc.Cranium – The front of a frog’s cranium is more developed than the back.Ossification refers to bone formation – the process of soft tissues becoming hardened. Moreover, a frog’s skull is generally known for having a triangular shape and incomplete ossification. AmphibianĪ frog’s skull consists of three main regions: Cranium, Sense Capsules, and Jaws.

#Skeleton neck diagrams pdf#

Phalanges – Several bones forming fingers or toes of a limbįor a more detailed diagram, check out this PDF on the study of esteology of frog by IGNOU.

Metatarsus – Bones forming the foot of a limb.

Tarsus – Several bones formed between the Tibiofibula and Metatarsus.

Tibiofibula – A single bone commonly known as the shinbone.

Ilium – A flat bone stretching backward from the Sacral Vertebra.

Urostyle – A long, thin bone at the base of the lower vertebrates.

Sacral Vertebra – A bone below the last vertebra, positioned between the hips.

Vertebrae – Individual bones that form the spine.

Refer to the interactive diagram above to learn where each part is located.