CAMPBELL, John*; TUNE, Jena; MUELLER, Jessica; MCDANIEL, Marshall; SCHIERMEIER, Morgan; University of Missouri Rolla; University of Missouri Rolla; University of Missouri Rolla; University of Missouri Rolla; University of Missouri Rolla: Osteology of Acris crepitans blanchardi and Skeletal Variation among Hylids

Of the North American hylids (Anura: Hylidae), the osteology of frogs in the genus Acris has been the least studied. Based on cleared-and-stained and dry whole-mount specimens and serial sections, we describe the adult osteology of Acris crepitans blanchardi. Novelty in cranium of this species seems to relate to its limited amount of ossification relative to other taxa. For example, the cranium of A. c. blanchardi is gracile, with less obvious ossification of elements of the suspensorium and dorsal cranium than apparent in other hylids. We compare the osteology of this species to that of several other hylid taxa, including Pseudacris and Hyla, and discuss cranial and body size evolution among the North American hylids.