title: Amphibian development in the fossil record.
abstract: Ontogenetic series of extinct taxa are extremely rare and when preserved often incomplete and difficult to interpret. However, the fossil record of amphibians includes a number of well-preserved ontogenetic sequences for temnospondyl and lepospondyl taxa, which have provided valuable information about the development of these extinct groups. Here we summarize the current knowledge on fossil ontogenies of amphibians, their potential and limitations for relationship assessments, and discuss the insights they have provided for our understanding of the anatomy, life history, and ecology of extinct amphibians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organismal Biology & Anatomy, University of Chicago, 1027 E 57th Street, Culver 108, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. nfrobisch@uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Nadia B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Fröbisch
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Olori
authors.forename: Rainer R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Schoch
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Witzmann
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005580:Fossils; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological; D010802:Phylogeny; D012863:Skeleton