anuran

Definitions

Any amphibian of the order Anura; a frog, a toad.

Equivalents

Examples

“The fact that the higher Batrachia go on metamorphosing until several of their structures are so perfect as to require⟳ but the gentlest modification to make⟳ them fit for the Mammal, does not require⟳ one to suppose⟳ that the Toad and the Frog lie⟳ in the direct⟳ route from the Ichthyic to the Mammalian types. That such power of variation, such aptitude for transformation exists in these essential but metamorphic Fish⟳, suggests the probability that some of the very earliest of the Amphibia, filial perhaps to forms far lower than the Lamprey, did not stop⟳ at the last⟳ metamorphic stage⟳ of an Anuran, but changed still further, and thus laid the foundation of the higher classes.”

“Inactivity may dominate an anuran’s life. Spea hammondii in the deserts of southwestern North America spend⟳ >90% of their life inactive; they appear⟳ explosively and breed⟳ with the first heavy summer rains, then feed⟳ for 2–3 weeks before becoming inactive for another year.”

“Often the anuran gives a release⟳ call⟳, a signal to other anurans that it is either not sexually receptive or is of the wrong sex to be amplexed. The release⟳ call⟳ may sound⟳ similar to a distress call⟳, a vocalization emitted by an anuran in response to predation, but either call⟳ may serve⟳ to startle a clinician momentarily, by which time the anuran may escape⟳.”

CEFR level