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The calcified pseudodontoid of Leptodactylus troglodytes (macerated). (A) Frontal view; (B) Lateral view.
Source publication
A calcified pseudodontoid in the mandibular symphysis of Leptodactylus troglodytes was described from fresh, macerated, and cleared/double-stained preparations. Histology confirmed that the pseudodontoid was mineralized and composed of fibrocartilage. This structure was found in all specimens of both sexes, suggesting a role in either prey capture...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... specimens of both sexes of L. troglodytes show a large, calcified, toothlike structure in the middle of the mandibular symphysis (Figs. 1, 2B, C). This structure, which appears to result from superficial calcification of the tissue that lies on the superior surface of the symphyseal cartilage, stained with alizarin red in adult specimens (N 5 3) but not in a juvenile specimen (N 5 1). ...
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... specimens of both sexes of L. troglodytes show a large, calcified, toothlike structure in the middle of the mandibular symphysis (Figs. 1, 2B, C). This structure, which appears to result from superficial calcification of the tissue that lies on the superior surface of the symphyseal cartilage, stained with alizarin red in adult specimens (N 5 3) but not in a juvenile specimen (N 5 1). The pseudodontoid from one adult specimen (SVL 5 48.4 mm; Fig. 2C) measured 1.20 mm high by 0.35 mm wide at thickest point. ...
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... the cleared-and-stained Leptodactylus specimens that we examined, as well as in Physalaemus cuvieri (N 5 1) and Chaunus granulosus (N 5 1), a pseudo- dontoid similar to that shown in Fig. 2D is present in the same position. The other specimens examined by direct observation of the mandibular symphysis also show a structure similar to the pseudodontoid (data not shown). ...
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... mandibulary arch is formed by the mentomeck- elian, dentary, and angulosplenial. The former is fused with the dentary by its lateral surface. The anterior and posterior ends of mentomeckelian are projected toward the premaxillary bones, forming a concavity in its middle region (Figs. 1B, 2C). This character was also observed in L. pustulatus (Fig. 2D). By comparison, in L. laticeps (Ponssa, 2006), only the anterior end of mentomeckelian is projected toward the premaxillary bones. The dentary lies on the external surface of the mandibular arch. Leptodactylus troglodytes possesses odontoids on the dorsal edge of the ...
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... L. pustulatus (Fig. 2D). By comparison, in L. laticeps (Ponssa, 2006), only the anterior end of mentomeckelian is projected toward the premaxillary bones. The dentary lies on the external surface of the mandibular arch. Leptodactylus troglodytes possesses odontoids on the dorsal edge of the angulosplenial and on the anterior region of the dentary (Fig. 1A, 1B). These features were only observed in L. troglodytes among the species analyzed (Appendix 1). We observed a hypertrophied coronoid process on the angulosplenial of both L. troglodytes and L. ocellatus. This attribute has been previously described in Leptodactylus laticeps (sensu Ponssa, 2006); it is less well developed in L. laticeps ...
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Citations
A phylogeny of the species-rich clade of the Neotropical frog genus Leptodactylus sensu stricto is presented on the basis of a total evi- dence analysis of molecular (mitochondrial and nuclear markers) and non-molecular (adult and larval morphological and behavioral characters) sampled from > 80% of the 75 currently recognized species. Our results support the monophyly of Leptodactylus sensu stricto, with Hydrolaetare placed as its sister group. The reciprocal monophyly of Hydrolaetare and Leptodactylus sensu stricto does not require that we consider Hydrolaetare as either a subgenus or synonym of Leptodactylus sensu lato. We recognize Leptodactylus sensu stricto, Hydrolaetare, Adenomera, and Lithodytes as valid monophyletic genera. Our results generally support the traditionally recognized Leptodactylus species groups, with exceptions involving only a few species that are easily accommodated without proposing new groups or significantly altering contents. The four groups form a pectinate tree, with the Leptodactylus fuscus group diverging first, followed by the L. pentadactylus group, which is sister to the L. latrans and L. melanonotus groups. To evaluate the impact of non-molecular evidence on our results, we compared our total evidence results with results obtained from analy- ses using only molecular data. Although non-molecular evidence comprised only 3.5% of the total evidence matrix, it had a strong impact on our total evidence results. Only one species group was monophyletic in the molecular-only analysis, and support differed in 86% of the 54 Leptodac- tylus clades that are shared by the results of the two analyses. Even though no non-molecular evidence was included for Hydrolaetare, exclusion of that data partition resulted in that genus being nested within Leptodactylus, demonstrating that the inclusion of a small amount of non-molecular evidence for a subset of species can alter not only the placement of those species, but also species that were not scored for those data. The evolu- tion of several natural history and reproductive traits is considered in the light of our phylogenic framework. Invasion of rocky outcrops, larval oophagy, and use of underground reproductive chambers are restricted to species of the Leptodactylus fuscus and L. pentadactylus groups. In con- trast, larval schooling, larval attendance, and more complex parental care are restricted to the L. latrans and L. melanonotus groups. Construction of foam nests is plesiomorphic in Leptodactylus but their placement varies extensively (e.g., underground chambers, surface of waterbodies, natu- ral or excavated basins). Information on species synonymy, etymology, adult and larval morphology, advertisement call, and geographic distribu- tion is summarized in species accounts for the 30 species of the Leptodactylus fuscus group, 17 species of the L. pentadactylus group, eight species of the L. latrans group, and 17 species of the L. melanonotus group, as well as the three species that are currently unassigned to any species group.
Knowledge of the osteology of species of the Leptodactylus melanonotus group is limited. Nevertheless, osteological characters are useful to diagnose species to, to propose phylogenetic relationships, to understand patterns of morphological evolution, and to predict biological function associated with morphology. Here, we describe the whole osteology of Leptodactylus podicipinus; we have special interest in osteological and morphometric characters whose interpopulational and intersexual differences can be related with fossorial habits. Individuals from the Pantanal, Brazil, were compared with L. podicipinus from northern Argentina and central and southern Paraguay by analyzing morphometric and osteological characters. The quantitative data revealed sexual dimorphism in tarsus length in the specimens from the Pantanal. The observed interpopulation osteological differences could not be associated with burrowing habits. Osteologically, L. podicipinus is intermediate between the members of the Leptodactylus fuscus group, which is more specialized for digging, and the generalized L. melanonotus, Leptodactylus latrans, and Leptodactylus pentadactylus groups.
The Leptodactylus melanonotus group consists of 15 species, but references to skeletal characters are available for only three species: L. leptodactyloides, L. melanonotus, and L. diedrus. Leptodactylus nesiotus is a member of the melanonotus group known only from the type locality, Bonasse swamp, on the Southwestern peninsula of Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago. This species has been categorized as vulnerable given its restricted distribution. Herein, we report the adult osteology of L. nesiotus, the skeletal characters are compared with the available data from other Leptodactylus species. A phylogenetic analysis recovers a paraphyletic L. melanonotus group relative to the L. latrans group. A monophyletic "latrans-melanonotus" clade is supported by five synapomorphies. L. nesiotus is recovered as the sister species of L. validus, a relationship supported by two synapomorphies: T-shaped terminal phalanges and a dark-colored stripe on the outer surface of arm. In addition, we report on the ecology of this poorly known species.
The genus Leptodactylus is predominantly Neotropical (a few species have colonized the southern Neartic region) and is distributed from Texas to Argentina and on certain Caribbean islands. Leptodactylus was divided into five groups of species: Leptodactylus melanonotus, Leptodactylus ocellatus, Leptodactylus fuscus, Leptodactylus pentadactylus and Leptodactylus marmoratus. Among these, the L. fuscus group is the one with most species, with 27 taxa. Characters unverified in most of the species are used to define the L. fuscus group. However, the monophyly of the group has never been tested rigorously in a quantitative phylogenetic context. Thus, the main goal of this study was to test such monophyly and to construct a phylogeny of the L. fuscus group. A matrix of 114 characters scored across 43 taxa was constructed, with 31 characters taken from external morphology, 58 from adult skeletons, 16 from larval chondrocranium, 5 from ethology and 4 from morphometric data were included. Out of all the species examined, 23 belonged to the ingroup and 20 to the outgroup. The data set was analysed with implied weights, by using TNT software. The monophyly of the group was strongly supported in the fittest cladogram obtained. The optimizations of some characters on this hypothesis support traditional evolutionary hypotheses. The optimizations also suggest the presence of paedomorphic character states in some species, which is also discussed.
