Fig. 5: Geographic distribution of endotrophic guilds.

The map at the top shows all endotrophic guilds together and includes inferred guild assignations (see text); it highlights the percentages of embryo/tadpole descriptions per ecoregion in colors following the scale and the areas with the highest alpha diversity of endotrophic species (>25 spp.; lined pattern). Note the overlap between areas with the highest diversity of endotrophic species and areas with minimal percentages of embryo/tadpole descriptions (Tropical Andes and New Guinea). The smaller maps at the bottom show the distribution and knowledge gaps of species with direct, viviparous, and nidicolous development. Note the high overlap of the three guilds in most ecoregions of South America, with an unbalanced knowledge in favor of nidicolous and viviparous tadpoles and the exclusive occurrence of some guilds in punctual regions. Direct-developing embryo of Oreobates berdemenos photographed by M. J. Salica.