An overview of the ilium of anurans (Lissamphibia, Salientia), with a critical appraisal of the terminology and primary homology of main ilial features

Abstract

ABSTRACT The ilium has been considered a ‘key’ element in anuran paleontology, but its terminology is inconsistent across the literature. Therefore, we here review the terminology used so far to describe anuran ilia and provide an annotated glossary of main ilial features. We also survey ilial morphology and comment on variation exhibited by each ilial feature among major anuran lineages. We do so with special consideration for myological correlates, provide muscle maps for a few species, and aim to clarify hypotheses of primary homology. We consider previous work that compartmentalizes part of the described variation into cladistic characters, with the intention of providing a starting point for using ilial features in future research on osteology-based phylogenetics of anurans. Finally, we remark on some aspects regarding the dorsal prominenceprotuberance complex.