Ancient ontogenies: Larval development of the Lower Cretaceous anuran Shomronella jordanica (Amphibia: Pipoidea)

The Lower Cretaceous anuran Shomronella jordanica (Pipoidea) is represented by an assemblage of nearly 300 tadpoles of different ages. The size of the assemblage allows a reconstruction of the larval ontogeny of this species. We describe the ossification sequence and growth rates of S. jordanica and present reconstructions of tadpoles at different stages. The ontogeny of the species seems to be similar to that of extant pipids in many aspects. Larvae are similar in shape and size to those of Xenopus laevis but lack the anterior barbels that are typical for all extant pipids. The ossification sequence is closer to that of pipids than to that of other anurans. We present evidence that suggests that this species was terrestrial as an adult, and we discuss the implications of these data for the evolution of anuran development.