Fig. 4From: Evolutionary and developmental considerations of the diet and gut morphology in ceratophryid tadpoles (Anura)Light microscopy micrographs of the foregut of Chacophrys pierottii. a. Section of the esophagus in an advanced larval stage (Stage 39) shows a thin mucosa with ciliated cells and columnar mucous cells (PAS-positive). b and c. Panoramic and detailed sections of the esophagus in a froglet showing folds of mucosa lined by a ciliated epithelium with numerous goblet cells. d and e. Panoramic and detailed sections of the larval “stomach” (i.e. the maniccotto glandulare) exhibit the fundic region with numerous gastric glands and some goblet cells (PAS-positive) in an advanced larval stage (Stage 39). f. Middle stomach section with folded mucosa and numerous gastric glands with different types of glandular cells in the froglet. g. Amplification of F-image showing gastric glands with mucous neck cells (PAS-positive) at the upper portion and oxynticopeptic cells (*) at the lower portion. h. Section at the level of the pyloric region there are small simple tubular gastric glands in the froglet. Abbreviations: Ec: epithelial cells; Gc: goblets cell; Gg: gastric glands; Gp: gastric pits; Me: muscularis externa; Mm: muscularis mucosa; Mnc: mucous neck cells; Sm: submucosaBack to article page