This scientific masterpiece reveals many aspects of the lives of marsupial frogs and closely allied genera. Native to Central and South America, these amphibians differ from other frogs in that they protect their eggs after oviposition by either adhering them to the female's back or placing them in a specialized dorsal pouch (thus the common name, marsupial frog). During mating, the male typically collects the eggs from the female with his feet-often one at a time and always out of water-fertilizes them, and then tucks them into the female's pouch or attaches them to her back. In some species these eggs hatch as tadpoles, but most emerge as miniatures of the adults. Even among the tadpoles there is remarkable divergence, with some behaving in the typical manner (feeding and metamorphosing), whereas others forego all feeding until they metamorphose. In Marsupial Frogs, William E Duellman's synthesis of all that is known about the unique family Hemiphractidae is largely based on decades of his own careful laboratory and field study. He reveals the diversity of exotic color patterns and the frogs' geographic distributions by providing more than 200 photographs, illustrations, and maps. This exceptional tome should find its way into the libraries of serious herpetologists, tropical biologists, and developmental biologists. Included in this book are: a molecular phylogeny of the family Hemiphractidae; a thorough osteological analysis; a review of external morphological features; it includes an overview of the evolution of reproductive modes; a biogeographic synthesis; it includes keys to genera and species; offers diagnosis and thorough description of each species of marsupial frog; and a colored physiographic maps depicting species distributions.

The first major synthesis of marsupial frogs, this book is the magnum opus of renowned herpetologist William E. Duellman.

About the Author
William E. Duellman is curator emeritus of herpetology at the Biodiversity Institute and professor emeritus of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas. He is the coauthor of Biology of Amphibians and the editor of Patterns of Distribution of Amphibians: A Global Perspective.

Reviews
This outstanding volume is the result of the longest enduring of Duellman's research projects; add it to your bookshelf! -- David C. Cannatella Phyllomedusa Overall, this is a very detailed, well-written, up-to-date summary of known information on these frogs. It will be indispensable to scientists who are or will be working with marsupial frogs. It will also be valuable to advanced students of herpetology. Highly Recommended. Choice This book does a great job of achieving its goal of summarizing the current knowledge of the family and highlighting where knowledge is currently lacking. The writing style is easy to follow and concise making this book a very compelling read. I very rarely use the following words when writing book reviews, but this book is a must for anyone with an interest in neotropical herpetology or amphibians in general. Herpetological Bulletin



Book Information
ISBN 9781421416755
Author William E. Duellman
Format Hardback
Page Count 432
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 1338g
Dimensions(mm) 254mm * 178mm * 29mm