New Zealand frogs are
unique
•Archaic morphological
characters
–9 vertebrae in front
of the sacrum
–Floating ribs,
unattached to spine
–Adults retain
tail-wagging muscles
•Unusual life history
–Live 30 + years
–Infrequent mating,
small clutches
–Paternal care of
young
•Cryptic and difficult to survey
–Largely silent
–Lack external
eardrums
–Communication by
pheromones
