Tornado Alley (PROG)

[fuagf]

Ecological Guild Evolution and the Discovery of the World's Smallest Vertebrate

Eric N. Rittmeyer1, Allen Allison2, Michael C. Gründler3, Derrick K. Thompson3, Christopher C. Austin1*

1 Department of Biological Sciences and Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America, 2 Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America, 3 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America

Abstract Top

Living vertebrates vary drastically in body size, yet few taxa reach the extremely minute size of some frogs and teleost fish. Here we describe two new species of diminutive terrestrial frogs from the megadiverse hotspot island of New Guinea, one of which represents the smallest known vertebrate species, attaining an average body size of only 7.7 mm. Both new species are members of the recently described genus Paedophryne, the four species of which are all among the ten smallest known frog species, making Paedophryne the most diminutive genus of anurans. This discovery highlights intriguing ecological similarities among the numerous independent origins of diminutive anurans, suggesting that minute frogs are not mere oddities, but represent a previously unrecognized ecological guild.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0029797

==============

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd0KYd_SEW8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK7o8k25qPA

See also ..

Sturdy Arms Were Secret to the Saber-Tooth's Success
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=70726409

A small step for lungfish, a big step for the evolution of walking
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=69916582

Mass Species Loss Stunts Evolution for Millions of Years
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=68504445

Homo Sapiens, Meet Your New Astounding Family
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=66812099

Michele Bachmann's Stance on Evolution Demolished by High School Student
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=63891878

Are Americans losing their capacity for empathy?
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=58323927

The Brilliant Empathetic Tim Wise ...Who ALWAYS gets IT so Excruciatingly Correct has NOW come OUT with THIS:

Tim Wise
@timjacobwise Tim Wise

I'm done with white liberals and leftists who think Obama=Bush=
Paul=Reagan=Clinton=Gingrich=McCain. Seriously, shut the fuck up
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=70839393