Convergent Anuran Middle Ear Loss Lacks a Universal, Adaptive Explanation

March 04, 2024

Frogs and toads are often known for their acoustic communication; however, many lineages of frogs and toads (anurans) have lost their tympanic middle ears, which are vital for airborne hearing in most four-legged animals. Womack and Hoke (2023) used phylogenetic comparative methods to examine…