Explanations for deformed frogs: plenty of research left to do (a response to Skelly and Benard).
Our recent study (Ballengeé and Sessions, 2009. J Exp Zool (Mol Dev Evol) 312B:1-10) shows that deformed frogs with missing limbs can be explained by sublethal "selective predation" by predators that are too small, or have mouthparts that are too small, to consume whole tadpoles. Skelly and Benard do not agree with our conclusions and feel that they are not well founded. Here we respond to their critique.
Sessions
Stanley K
SK
Department of Biology, Hartwick College, Oneonta, New York 13829, USA. sessions@hartwick.edu
Ballengée
Brandon
B
D000818:Animals; D017880:Limb Deformities, Congenital; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D011898:Ranidae / Q000002:abnormalities*