The endocrine regulation of metamorphosis in lepidoperons and anurans - Essay Example

The Endocrine Regulation of Metamorphosis in Lepidopteron and Anurans: A Critical Comparison 2007 The Endocrine Regulation of Metamorphosis in Lepidopteron and Anurans: A Critical Comparison The metamorphosis process that takes place in lepidopteron is incredibly different than that metamorphosis which takes place in anurans. However, both lepidopteron and anurans are under significant endocrine control. In order to be able to understand both lepidopteron and anurans better, we must not only discuss each as a separate issue, but as well we must compare and contrast the endocrine regulation for both of the metamorphosis processes.

By doing this, we will be able to gain a much more informed and knowledgeable understanding not only on the different metamorphosis processes with lepidopteron and anurans, but as well about each subject in general. This is what will be dissertated in the following. The order Lepidoptera is considered as being the "second largest order in the class Insecta and includes the butterflies, skippers, and moths. Members of the order are referred to as lepidopterans" (Wikipedia, 2007). This particular order has more than 180,000 species in 128 families and 47 superfamilies.

Lepidopterans undergo a complete and full metamorphosis, as they go through a four-stage life cycle of egg: larva/caterpillar - pupa/chrysalis - imago/adult. When we look at the anurans, which are considered as being the most successful and diverse of the amphibians and anura is considered as being an order of animals in the class amphibian, and this includes both frogs and toads. At the present time in the world there are about 5,280 species that are considered as being in this order, and those that are living are divided into three particular suborders, which are: Archaeobatrachia, Mesobatrachia and Neobatrachia.

In regards to the metamorphosis process of the anurans, the beginning is the larval stage, where it is a tadpole, and after a certain period of growth, the tadpole undergoes metamorphosis, in which the tail is lost and limbs appear. These, however, are only two of the most obvious changes that take place, as "Tadpoles have a cartilaginous skeleton, thin nonglandular skin, and a long, coiled intestine; they lack jaws, lungs, and eyelids. Among the first changes that take place is the appearance of hindlimb buds, which grow and develop into differentiated hindlimbs, complete with toes, webbing, and tubercles" (Britannica, 2007).

Although both lepidopteron and anura are under significant endocrine control, their metamorphosis processes are extremely different, namely due to the fact of the difference in endocrine regulation between the two. The endocrine glands are the part of the anatomy which secret chemical messengers called hormones that circulate throughout the body via the bloodstream in order to affect distant cells within specific organs, and they work by secreting their products immediately into the blood or interstitial fluid, without however, the storage of the chemical.

From this review we can conclude many different things, namely the fact that there are both similarities and differences between the lepidopteron and the anura, and that one of the main differences of all is that in regards to the metamorphosis processes of each. We have also been able to see how complex and significant the processes are that take place within each of these, and we have been able to gain a much more informed and knowledgeable understanding on both of these. References Britannica (2007).

Anura, online article retrieved March 13, 2007, from http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-40603 Donnellan, M. M. J (2004). 'Allozyme, Chromosomal and Morphological Variability in the Litoria Lesueuri Species Group (Anura:Hylidae) Including a Description of a new Species', Australian Journal of Zoology, 521-28. Flores-Nava, A., & Vera-Munoz, P (1999). 'Growth, Metamorphosis and Feeding Behavior of Rana Catesbeiana Shaw 1802 Tadpoles at Different Rearing Densities, Aquaculture Research, 30 (5), 341-347. Hamer, A. J et al (2002).

'Management of Freshwater Wetlands for the Endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog', Biological Conservation, 106 413-424. Penman, T. D et al (2006). "A Preliminary Investigation Into the Potential Impacts of Fire on a Forest Dependant Burrowing Frog Species', Pacific Conservation Biology, 12 78-83. Ross, K et al (2004). 'Systematics of Sphagnum Frogs of the Genus Philoria (Anura: Myobatrachidae) in Eastern Australia, With the Description of Two New Species', Records of the Australian Museum, 56, 57-74.

Schmid, M et al (2002). 'Chromosome Banding in Amphibia. XXV. Karyotype Evolution and Heterochromatin Characterization in Australian Mixophyes (Anura, Myobatrachidae), Cytogenic and Genome Research, 97 239-253. Wikipedia (2007). Lepidoptera, online article retrieved March 13, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepidoptera