Functions as a regulator of the BMP signaling pathway and is involved in epidermal differentiation. Expressed in the animal half of the embryo during gastrulation, becoming restricted to the ventral ectoderm at stage 12.5. At the neurula stage, expressed in the anterior ectoderm surrounding the neural plate, and weakly in the epidermis. Expression is especially high in the presumptive hatching gland and cement gland regions. Surprisingly, by the tailbud stage (stage 22), expression is limited to the hatching gland and is not seen in the cement gland. Conversely, in tadpoles expressed broadly in the head, heart and fin. Expression in the head is seen in the primary mouth and in the brain, eyes, otic vesicles and olfactory pits. First expressed at stage 9, after the mid-blastula transition (MBT). Expression is highest at stage 10.5 and remains constant until the tadpole stage (PubMed:17475571). First detected at stage 10.5, expression increases gradually until the tadpole stage (at protein level) (PubMed:21177533). Highly expressed in the epidermal ectoderm at the neurula stage (PubMed:21177533). Expression is down-regulated by ras. Morpholino knockdown induces severe developmental defects including dorsal open phenotype and the reduction of head and tail structures at the tailbud stage. Belongs to the ELAPOR family.