Synopses & Reviews
Xenopus is a genus of African clawed frogs. Despite their occurrence in such diverse habitats as rainforests, lowland swamps, and alpine lakes--and their widespread use in laboratory research--the biology of these animals in their natural environments has never been reviewed. This volume provides the first comprehensive account of the taxonomy, ecology, behaviour, genetics, immunology, sensory physiology, and evolution of this group, with contributions from leading researchers in these fields.
Review
"This book is more than a reference for those working with Xenopus in the laboratory. Anyone seriously interested in amphibian biology will want a copy, and many of the chapters will interest researchers from a wide range of biological disciplines."--The Quarterly Review of Biology
"It is a wonderful monograph on a fascinating group of frogs, where every chapter manages to amaze the reader with a (thus far mostly unknown) remarkable aspect of Xenopus biology; there seems to be no end to the wonders of this animal" --Hydrobiologia
"Excellent reference for researchers working with the African Clawed Frog in the laboratory, as well as for hobbyist frog keepers."--Reptile and Amphibian Magazine
Synopsis
Xenopus, the African clawed frog, is one of the three most widely cited vertebrate animals in the biological literature, yet almost all knowledge is based on laboratory experience of a single species, Xenopus laevis from South Africa. Despite the occurrence of these frogs in habitats ranging from rainforest to semi-desert and from lowland swamps to alpine lakes in sub-Saharan Africa, the rest of the genus was until recently considered relatively uniform and uninteresting. During the past twenty years, field research has transformed our knowledge of these animals in their natural environment, and currently seventeen species are recognized. This book is the first attempt to describe their biology and natural history. The first five chapters cover systematics, ecology, distribution, and species interactions. The second section covers behaviour, sensory perception, and development. The next section focuses on infections and defence, followed by a final group of chapters on evolutionary and phylogenetic aspects. The aim of this volume is to provide a reference work for researchers working with Xenopus in the lab and to highlight for them and others the potential of Xenopus for future work in evolutionary biology, genetics, behaviour, immunology, parasitology, and ecology.
Table of Contents
PART I: Xenopus species and ecology PART II: Behaviour, sensory perception, and development
PART III: Infections and defence
PART IV: Phylogeny and speciation