%0 Journal Article
%T Coloration of Anuran Tadpoles (Amphibia): Development, Dynamics, Function, and Hypotheses
%A Giselle Thibaudeau
%A Ronald Altig
%J ISRN Zoology
%D 2012
%R 10.5402/2012/725203
%X Colorations of anuran tadpoles surely function in many of the same ways that have been ascribed to color and pattern in other animals, but the paucity of data forces one to look to other groups to generate hypotheses. Such an action often occurs because of the difficulty of defining specific fitness parameters to larval forms. The commonly muted colorations of tadpoles are typically considered to function only in some form of crypsis, but we discuss other functions in the particular context of behavioral ecology and changes induced by various kinds of coinhabitants. We review the development, terminology, diversity, and functions of coloration in tadpoles and then pose various questions for future research. We strongly support a broad-based perspective that calls for an integration of several fields of research. 1. Introduction The literature on coloration, the visual impression gained from color and pattern, is very incomplete for tadpoles, probably because colorations used in aggressive interactions, territorial maintenance, and species and sex recognition are presumed to be absent. Also, it seems that for many years we accepted ideas from major summaries [1] as intuitive fact. Studies of sexual selection, community ecology, and developmental genetics have changed the research landscape immensely. We are at least approaching a respectable understanding of the development, genetics, and evolution of coloration of several model organisms. Studies of the coloration of birds and fishes obviously sit near the top of the knowledge base, and the data on all larval amphibians certainly sits near the bottom. After we review the formation and ontogeny, diversity, and functions of the colorations of tadpoles, we discuss possible ways to use larval coloration to better understand several facets of the behavioral ecology of tadpoles. The potential ramifications of inducible changes in coloration that are stimulated by coinhabiting competitors and predators [2] are a major focus. One must use various surrogates of fitness in evaluating larval forms, and we attempted to supply information and identify questions more than supplying answers [3]. These authors rightfully warn that an ¡°uncritical interpretation of supposedly adaptive features presents dangers of properties being mistaken for function .¡± Another pertinent comment [4] was ¡°I have assumed that eyespots have a function but do not wish to be so adamantly adaptationist as to suggest that we ignore the null hypothesis that eyespots are not adaptive and currently have no function.¡± There is much to be learned
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.zoology/2012/725203/