Role of the opercularis muscle in seismic sensitivity in the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana.

The inner ear of anuran amphibians appears to be exceptionally sensitive to substrate vibration. The opercularis system, consisting of an opercularis muscle running from the shoulder girdle to a movable, cartilaginous operculum lying next to the inner ear, has been hypothesized to be involved in driving these seismic responses. Removal of the opercularis muscle of adult bullfrogs, Rana catesbeiana, caused clear decreases in microphonic responses of the inner ear to vibrations from 20-250 Hz and 0.05-5.0 cm/sec2 accelerations. Degree of decrease in responsiveness was variable between individuals and between different frequencies of stimulation, ranging up to 90% reduction at certain frequencies and in certain specimens. Decreases were most marked at lower frequencies below about 50 Hz. Additional removal of the levator scapulae superior muscle, which runs alongside the opercularis muscle from the shoulder girdle to ventrolateral portions of the otic capsule, also tended to depress responses, although this effect was substantially less (generally less than 10%) and also less consistent. As the opercularis muscle appears to be derived from the levator scapulae musculature, it is speculated that primitively seismic sensitivity was enhanced by a muscular connection that could transmit motion from the forelimb to the otic region, responsiveness being further enhanced by the subsequent evolution of the specialized opercularis system.