embryonic surface ciliated cells in eleutherodactylus urichi (anura: leptodactylidae)

while our knowledge of anuran embryonic and larval surface ciliation and their diversity ofciliation patterns are significant, very few references were noticed on embryonic ciliation in direct-developinganurans, such as species in the genus eleutherodactylus. eleutherodactylus urichi embryos were found tohave surface ciliated cells during much of their development until a few days before hatching. ciliation wasmost prominent on the pharyngeal region and on the tail fins, both regions believed to have a respiratory role,and supporting the hypothesis that embryonic ciliation in amphibians serves principally to aid respiration bymoving intracapsular fluid. the limb-buds were also well ciliated, an evolutionary novelty since in mostanurans with a tadpole stage, surface ciliation regresses before limbs show significant development.