Nuptial pad

A nuptial pad (also known as thumb pad, or nuptial excrescence[1]) is a secondary sex characteristic present on some mature male frogs and salamanders.[2][3][4][5] Triggered by androgen hormones, this breeding gland (a type of mucous gland) appears as a spiked epithelial swelling on the forearm and prepollex that aids with grip, which is used primarily by males to grasp (or clasp) females during amplexus.[6] They can also be used in male–male combat in some species.[6]

Nuptial pad (arrow) on thumb of Pelophylax esculentus

Historical background

Austrian biologist Paul Kammerer experimented on midwife toads' nuptial pads.[7] He used the offspring's apparent enlargening from generation-to-generation as evidence of Lamarckian evolution.[8]

Examples

Many amphibian species manifest nuptial pads for use in amplexus, an example being the rough-skinned newt, Taricha granulosa.[9]

See also

References
  1. William E. Duellman; et al. (1994). Biology of Amphibians. JHU Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-0801847806.
  2. "Science & Nature – Wildfacts – Common frog, grass frog". BBC. 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  3. "Mertensiella caucasica". AmphibiaWeb. 1999-10-03. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  4. "Ommatotriton ophryticus". AmphibiaWeb. 2005-10-26. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  5. "Pleurodeles waltl". AmphibiaWeb. 2002-05-25. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  6. F. Harvey Pough, Andrews RM, Cadle JE, Crump ML, Savitsky AH, Wells KD (2004). Herpetology (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. pp. 67–68. ISBN 0-13-100849-8.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  7. Koestler, Arthur (1971). The Case of the Midwife Toad. Random House.
  8. Archived September 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. C. Michael Hogan (2008). "Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa)". Globaltwitcher, ed. Nicklas Stromberg. Archived from the original on 2009-05-27.
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