Frogs by Mike Dorcas & Whit Gibbons

Author:Mike Dorcas & Whit Gibbons
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press
Published: 2011-07-03T16:00:00+00:00

Why do tadpoles of some species eat their siblings?

Tadpoles of some species of frogs will sometimes eat their siblings. This phenomenon, known as siblicide, may seem cruel and maladaptive. That is, eating your sibling who carries similar genes may appear to be something that would be selected against. However, under certain circumstances, it may be advantageous for some individuals of certain species of frogs to eat their brothers and sisters. David Pfennig has studied this phenomenon in spadefoot toads of the American Southwest deserts and found that several species have tadpoles that sometimes develop into cannibals. Cannibals develop much larger jaws and have beak-like mouthparts used to kill and eat their siblings. Most scientists believe that environmental factors may determine whether some individuals transform into cannibals. These species often lay eggs in wetlands that may dry and in which food may be limiting. Thus, it is advantageous for the species to sacrifice some individuals so that others can survive, transform into adults, and eventually reproduce.

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