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Wan G, Jiang ZY, Shi N, Xiong YG, Zheng RQ. Integrated Morphological, Comparative Transcriptomic, and Metabolomic Analyses Reveal Mechanisms Underlying Seasonal Patterns of Variation in Spines of the Giant Spiny Frog ( Quasipaa spinosa). Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9128. [PMID: 39201815 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25169128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Quasipaa spinosa, commonly known as the spiny frog, is an economically valued amphibian in China prized for its tender meat and nutritional value. This species exhibits marked sexual dimorphism, most notably the prominent spiny structures on males that are pivotal for mating success and species identification. The spines of Q. spinosa exhibit strong seasonal variation, changing significantly with the reproductive cycle, which typically spans from April to October. Sexually mature males develop densely packed, irregularly arranged round papillae with black spines on their chests during the breeding season, which may then reduce or disappear afterward, while females have smooth chest skin. Despite their ecological importance, the developmental mechanisms and biological functions of these spines have been inadequately explored. This study integrates morphological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the seasonal variation in spine characteristics of Q. spinosa. Our results demonstrate that spine density inversely correlates with body size and that spine development is accompanied by significant changes in epidermal thickness and keratinization during the breeding season. Comparative transcriptomic analysis across different breeding stages revealed significant gene expression alterations in pathways related to extracellular matrix interactions, tyrosine metabolism, Wnt signaling, and melanogenesis. Metabolomic analysis further identified significant seasonal shifts in metabolites essential for energy metabolism and melanin synthesis, including notable increases in citric acid and β-alanine. These molecular changes are consistent with the observed morphological adaptations, suggesting a complex regulatory mechanism supporting spine development and functionality. This study provides novel insights into the molecular basis of spine morphogenesis and its seasonal dynamics in Q. spinosa, contributing valuable information for the species' conservation and aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wan
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Wildlife Biotechnology and Conservation and Utilization, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Ze-Yuan Jiang
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Wildlife Biotechnology and Conservation and Utilization, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Nuo Shi
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Wildlife Biotechnology and Conservation and Utilization, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Yi-Ge Xiong
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Wildlife Biotechnology and Conservation and Utilization, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Rong-Quan Zheng
- Provincial Key Laboratory of Wildlife Biotechnology and Conservation and Utilization, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
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2
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Almeida DA, Twomey E, Vargas-Salinas F, Meyer C, Schulte LM. Sexy fingers: Pheromones in the glands of male dendrobatid frogs. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17476. [PMID: 39034599 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Many animals exchange chemicals during courtship and mating. In some amphibians, sexual chemical communication is mediated by pheromones produced in male breeding glands that are transferred to the female's nostrils during mating. This has been mostly studied in salamanders, despite frogs having similar glands and courtship behaviours suggestive of chemical communication. In Neotropical poison frogs (Dendrobatidae and Aromobatidae), males of many species develop breeding glands in their fingers, causing certain fingers to visibly swell. Many also engage in cephalic amplexus, whereby the male's swollen fingers are placed in close contact with the female's nares during courtship. Here, we investigate the possible roles of swollen fingers in pheromone production using whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNAseq). We examined differential gene expression in the swollen versus non-swollen fingers and toes of two dendrobatid species, Leucostethus brachistriatus and Epipedobates anthonyi, both of which have specialised mucous glands in finger IV, the latter of which has cephalic amplexus. The overwhelming pattern of gene expression in both species was strong upregulation of sodefrin precursor-like factors (SPFs) in swollen fingers, a well-known pheromone system in salamanders. The differentially expressed SPF transcripts in each species were very high (>40), suggesting a high abundance of putative protein pheromones in both species. Overall, the high expression of SPFs in the swollen fingers in both species, combined with cephalic amplexus, supports the hypothesis that these traits, widespread across members of the subfamilies Colostethinae and Hyloxalinae (ca. 141 species), are involved in chemical signalling during courtship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Abondano Almeida
- Department of Wildlife-/Zoo-Animal-Biology and Systematics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Evan Twomey
- Department of Wildlife-/Zoo-Animal-Biology and Systematics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Fernando Vargas-Salinas
- Grupo de Investigación en Evolución, Ecología y Conservación (EECO), Programa de Biología, Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
| | - Carmen Meyer
- Department of Wildlife-/Zoo-Animal-Biology and Systematics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lisa M Schulte
- Department of Wildlife-/Zoo-Animal-Biology and Systematics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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3
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Zheng P, Gong Y, Wang B, Yu H, Huang S, Liao X, Jiang J, Ran J, Xie F. Love Hug-Functional Validation of Nuptial Pad-Secreted Pheromone in Anurans. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1550. [PMID: 38891597 PMCID: PMC11171324 DOI: 10.3390/ani14111550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemical communication is an important mode of communication in the courtship and breeding processes of amphibians. In caudates, multiple components of sexual pheromones have been identified and functionally verified. One of these pheromone systems is plethodontid modulating factor (PMF). In anurans, the pheromone called amplexin was found in nuptial pads of ranids and was considered a member of the PMF system, yet its bio-function has not been tested. In this study, we obtained 18 amplexin transcript sequences from nuptial pads of Nidirana pleuraden (Amphibia, Ranidae) by transcriptome sequencing and found that the proteins translated by these transcripts are diversified, hydrophilic, and relatively stable. We also acquired a N. pleuraden amplexin isoform with the highest expression level in the transcriptome analysis through the prokaryotic expression system. Using two different animal behavioral experimental settings, we have tested the bio-function of the recombinant PMF protein (rPMF) in N. pleuraden's reproduction and found that the rPMF does not attract females but shortens the duration of amplexus significantly. This is the first study to verify the function of the PMF pheromone in Anura, indicating the pervasiveness of chemical communication during breeding in amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puyang Zheng
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; (P.Z.); (B.W.); (H.Y.); (S.H.); (X.L.); (J.J.)
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China;
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuzhou Gong
- Shanghai Natural History Museum, Branch of Shanghai Science & Technology Museum, Shanghai 200041, China;
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; (P.Z.); (B.W.); (H.Y.); (S.H.); (X.L.); (J.J.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Haoqi Yu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; (P.Z.); (B.W.); (H.Y.); (S.H.); (X.L.); (J.J.)
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China;
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Sining Huang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; (P.Z.); (B.W.); (H.Y.); (S.H.); (X.L.); (J.J.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xun Liao
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; (P.Z.); (B.W.); (H.Y.); (S.H.); (X.L.); (J.J.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianping Jiang
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; (P.Z.); (B.W.); (H.Y.); (S.H.); (X.L.); (J.J.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianghong Ran
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China;
| | - Feng Xie
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China; (P.Z.); (B.W.); (H.Y.); (S.H.); (X.L.); (J.J.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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4
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Li Q, Liu J, Klein N, Nakajima Y, Sander PM. Puberty in a Mesozoic reptile. Curr Biol 2023:S0960-9822(23)00748-0. [PMID: 37352853 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
The histology of bone can be preserved virtually unaltered for hundreds of millions of years in fossils from all environments and all vertebrate taxa, giving rise to the flourishing field of paleohistology.1 The shafts of long bones are formed by the apposition of periosteal bone tissue, similar to the growth of wood, and preserve, an often cyclical, record of the growth of the individual and events in its life history. One such event is sexual maturation or puberty, during which hormonal changes transform the juvenile into a sexually mature adult. Puberty has been well studied in humans and some other living vertebrates. Here, we describe puberty in Keichousaurus, a small sexually dimorphic and live-bearing marine reptile from Middle Triassic rocks of SW China, about 240 million years old. Using a combination of bone histology and morphology, we detected puberty2 as one of the four life stages (the others being fetus, juvenile, and adult). Adult Keichousaurus males have a more robust humerus than females, with pronounced muscle attachment sites and a triangular shaft cross section. Midshaft sections of the humeri of the males show the transition from the rounded juvenile cross section to the triangular adult cross section, as reflected in the contour of the growth marks. This shape change is produced by differential bone apposition of the periosteum, presumably triggered by sex hormones, as in humans,3 and influenced by changes in loading regime during puberty. This is the first report of puberty in a fossil amniote.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Li
- Division of Geology, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China; Section Paleontology, Institute of Geosciences, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jun Liu
- Division of Geology, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China; Section Paleontology, Institute of Geosciences, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Nicole Klein
- Section Paleontology, Institute of Geosciences, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Yasuhisa Nakajima
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Tokyo City University, Tokyo 1588557, Japan
| | - P Martin Sander
- Division of Geology, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China; Section Paleontology, Institute of Geosciences, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; The Dinosaur Institute, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
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5
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Montilla SO, Arcila-Pérez LF, Toro-Gómez MP, Vargas-Salinas F, Rada M. A multidisciplinary approach reveals a new species of glassfrog from Colombia (Anura: Centrolenidae: Nymphargus). Zootaxa 2023; 5271:1-48. [PMID: 37518145 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5271.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Anurans of the family Centrolenidae are a highly diverse clade of Neotropical treefrogs. In the last two decades, glassfrogs have become a model system for studies in ecology and evolutionary biology, in part because their taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships are considered relatively well established. However, there are still many gaps in our knowledge, for example, which morphological characters are important for species delimitation. Consequently, several species complexes in Centrolenidae remain unresolved. Using data on external and internal morphology of adult individuals, tadpoles, advertisement call traits and genetic sequences, we describe a new species of glassfrog (Nymphargus pijao sp. nov.) endemic to Colombia that has been previously missasigned to Nymphargus griffithsi. We include in this description data of three phenotypic characters related to pectoral musculature and testis size, which have been traditionally overlooked in studies about the taxonomy and systematics of glassfrogs. In addition, we present details of a low-cost method implemented in the field to rear tadpoles of the new species. This methodology can solve common problems during the management and care of glassfrogs egg masses and tadpoles, and hence, promotes their description for more species and a better knowledge of the anuran biodiversity in Neotropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián O Montilla
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Bosques Tropicales y Primatología; Universidad de los Andes. Bogotá D.C.; Colombia.; Fundación Proyecto Primates Colombia; Bogotá D.C.; Colombia..
| | - Luisa F Arcila-Pérez
- Grupo de investigación en Evolución; Ecología y Conservación (EECO); Programa de Biología; Universidad del Quindío; Armenia; Colombia..
| | - María Paula Toro-Gómez
- Grupo de investigación en Evolución; Ecología y Conservación (EECO); Programa de Biología; Universidad del Quindío; Armenia; Colombia..
| | - Fernando Vargas-Salinas
- Grupo de investigación en Evolución; Ecología y Conservación (EECO); Programa de Biología; Universidad del Quindío; Armenia; Colombia..
| | - Marco Rada
- Laboratório de Anfíbios; Departamento de Zoologia; Instituto de Biociências; Universidade de São Paulo; Brasil.; Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt; Bogotá; D.C.; Colombia..
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6
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Schulte LM, Abondano Almeida D, Stadler S, Köhler J. Pheromones for amphibian conservation – considering new approaches in conservation breeding programmes. Anim Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- L. M. Schulte
- Wildlife‐/Zoo‐Animal‐Biology and Systematics, Faculty of Biological Sciences Goethe University Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Germany
| | - D. Abondano Almeida
- Wildlife‐/Zoo‐Animal‐Biology and Systematics, Faculty of Biological Sciences Goethe University Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Germany
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7
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Méndez-Tepepa M, Morales-Cruz C, García-Nieto E, Anaya-Hernández A. A review of the reproductive system in anuran amphibians. ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2023; 9:3. [PMID: 36782341 PMCID: PMC9926845 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-023-00201-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive biology is an important topic that is well explored in many vertebrates, but information about frogs' reproductive mechanisms could be improved. Therefore, this review aims to provide organized and specific information on frog reproduction. First, we developed schemes that illustrate the general information regarding reproductive biological mechanisms in frogs in a specific way. Then, we described the physiological, histological, and morphological mechanisms of each organ of the reproductive system of male and female frogs. Finally, this manuscript may contribute to a broader understanding of anuran reproductive biology. Since, understanding frogs' reproductive system permits one to make a comparison with reproduction with other anurans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maribel Méndez-Tepepa
- Centro de Investigación en Genética y Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Autopista San Martín-Tlaxcala Km 10.5, Ixtacuixtla, 90120, Tlaxcala, Mexico.
| | - Cuauhtémoc Morales-Cruz
- Centro de Investigación en Genética y Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Autopista San Martín-Tlaxcala Km 10.5, Ixtacuixtla, 90120, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Edelmira García-Nieto
- Centro de Investigación en Genética y Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Autopista San Martín-Tlaxcala Km 10.5, Ixtacuixtla, 90120, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Arely Anaya-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Genética y Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Autopista San Martín-Tlaxcala Km 10.5, Ixtacuixtla, 90120, Tlaxcala, Mexico
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8
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Betancourth-Cundar M, Palacios-Rodriguez P. Reproductive behaviors promote ecological and phenotypic sexual differentiation in the critically endangered Lehmann’s poison frog. Evol Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-022-10207-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AbstractTerritoriality and parental care are complex reproductive behaviors found in many taxa from insects to mammals. Parental care can be carried out by the female, the male, or both, depending on the species. Territoriality, in contrast, is predominantly displayed by males. Different selective pressures imposed on individuals from the sex performing territorial or parental care behaviors may also lead to sexual differentiation in other life-history traits. Due to their territorial behavior and their diversity of parental care behaviors, Neotropical poison frogs are an excellent study system to investigate whether behavioral traits can influence sexual differentiation in intrinsic or extrinsic traits of individuals. Here, we evaluate whether territorial and parental care behaviors mediate sexual differentiation in ecological (habitat use) and phenotypic (coloration, morphology) traits in the critically endangered Lehmann’s poison frog (Oophaga lehmanni), a species in which males defend territories while females provide parental care. We found sex differences in habitat use and morphological traits, but not in coloration. Males use trunks and green leaves as perches more frequently and are found on higher substrates, than females. We found no sex differences in body size, but females have longer arms than males, which is probably associated with their parental duties (climbing trees to feed the tadpoles). Altogether, our results provide evidence that selection pressures act differently on male and female traits, and that territoriality and parental care may promote the evolution of sexual differentiation in dendrobatids. Long-term wildlife observations are essential to identify important life-history traits and to evaluate hypotheses about the behavioral ecology and conservation of this and other vertebrate species.
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Keeffe R, Blackburn DC. Diversity and function of the fused anuran radioulna. J Anat 2022; 241:1026-1038. [PMID: 35962544 PMCID: PMC9482697 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In tetrapods, fusion between elements of the appendicular skeleton is thought to facilitate rapid movements during running, flying, and jumping. Although such fusion is widespread, frogs stand out because adults of all living species exhibit fusion of the zeugopod elements (radius and ulna, tibia and fibula), regardless of jumping ability or locomotor mode. To better understand what drives the maintenance of limb bone fusion in frogs, we use finite element modeling methods to assess the functional consequences of fusion in the anuran radioulna, the forearm bone of frogs that is important to both locomotion and mating behavior (amplexus). Using CT scans of museum specimens, measurement tools, and mesh‐editing software, we evaluated how different degrees of fusion between the radius and ulna affect the von Mises stress and bending resistance of the radioulna in three loading scenarios: landing, amplexus, and long‐axis loading conditions. We find that the semi‐fused state observed in the radioulna exhibits less von Mises stress and more resistance to bending than unfused or completely fused models in all three scenarios. Our results suggest that radioulna morphology is optimized to minimize von Mises stress across different loading regimes while also minimizing volume. We contextualize our findings in an evaluation of the diversity of anuran radioulnae, which reveals unique, permanent pronation of the radioulna in frogs and substantial variation in wall thickness. This work provides new insight into the functional consequences of limb bone fusion in anuran evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Keeffe
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - David C Blackburn
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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10
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Serrano FC, Díaz‐Ricaurte JC, Busschau T, Ping T. Mix and match: New records of interspecific amplexus among South African frogs, with a review of sub‐Saharan Africa. Afr J Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Filipe C. Serrano
- Departamento de Ecologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - Juan C. Díaz‐Ricaurte
- Departamento de Ecologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
- Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Aplicada Universidade de São Paulo Piracicaba Brazil
- Semillero de Investigación en Ecofisiología y Biogeografía de Vertebrados Grupo de investigación en Biodiversidad y Desarrollo Amazónico (BYDA) Centro de investigaciones Amazónicas Macagual—César Augusto Estrada González Universidad de la Amazonia Florencia Colombia
| | - Theo Busschau
- New York University Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
- Department of Botany & Zoology University of Stellenbosch Matieland South Africa
| | - Tyrone Ping
- 7 Oak Tree Avenue, Glen Anil KwaZulu‐Natal South Africa
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11
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Rueda-Solano LA, Vargas-Salinas F, Pérez-González JL, Sánchez-Ferreira A, Ramírez-Guerra A, Navas CA, Crawford AJ. Mate-guarding behaviour in anurans: intrasexual selection and the evolution of prolonged amplexus in the harlequin toad Atelopus laetissimus. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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12
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Cavalcanti IRDS, Luna MC, Faivovich J, Grant T. Structure and evolution of the sexually dimorphic integumentary swelling on the hands of dendrobatid poison frogs and their relatives (Amphibia: Anura: Dendrobatoidea). J Anat 2021; 240:447-465. [PMID: 34755350 PMCID: PMC8819055 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The hands of adult males of many dendrobatid poison frogs and their relatives possess swelling formed by glandular tissue hypothesized to secrete courtship pheromones delivered to the female during cephalic amplexus. Variation in the occurrence and external morphology of the swelling of finger IV has provided important evidence for dendrobatoid systematics for decades, but its underlying structure has not been investigated. We undertook a detailed comparative analysis of the integument of the hand, including both external morphology and histology, of 36 species representing the diversity of dendrobatoid frogs and several close relatives. The swelling is caused by four densely packed, hypertrophic, morpho-histochemical types of specialized mucous glands (SMGs). We observed type I SMGs on fingers II-V and the wrist, including areas that are not swollen, types II and IV exclusively on finger IV, and type III on finger IV and the wrist. Type I SMGs occur either in isolation or together with types II, III, or IV; types II, III, and IV never occur together or without type I. We delimited 15 characters to account for the variation in external morphology and the occurrence of SMGs. Our data suggest that type I SMGs are a new synapomorphy for Dendrobatoidea and that type II SMGs originated in either the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of Dendrobatidae or independently in the MRCAs of Aromobatidae and Colostethinae, respectively, while types III and IV are restricted to Anomaloglossus. The discovery of these SMGs adds a new dimension to studies of poison frog reproductive biology, which have investigated acoustic, visual, and tactile cues in courtship, mating, and parental care across the diversity of Dendrobatoidea for decades but have almost entirely overlooked the possible role of chemical cues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María Celeste Luna
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 'Bernardino Rivadavia' - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julián Faivovich
- División Herpetología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales 'Bernardino Rivadavia' - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Taran Grant
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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13
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Robins A, Rogers LJ. Lateralized motor behaviour in the righting responses of the cane toad ( Rhinella marina). Laterality 2021; 27:129-171. [PMID: 34488564 DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2021.1968890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This paper reports a series of tests for fore- and hind-limb preferences used by cane toads, Rhinella marina, to assist returning to the righted position after being overturned. We confirm the strong and significant right-handedness reported in this species, which under certain conditions exceeded 90% right-hand preference at the group level. Toads were tested under a variety of conditions including horizontal and inclined surfaces, with and without the opportunity for the forelimbs to grasp a support, in order to assess the effects of different vestibular and proprioceptive input on the strength and direction of fore- and hind-limb preferences. A range of behavioural strategies indicated learning effects; however, the strength or direction of limb preferences did not increase significantly with experience, even in toads retested multiple times. Comparisons with the mammalian condition for limb preferences are discussed with relevance to practice effects and established limb preferences, and to effects associated with arousal or stress. In contrast to the expectation that handedness in toads represents intentional or voluntary preferences, the presence of lateralized central pattern generators in the toads is postulated to explain the different forms of lateralization revealed by our tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Robins
- Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Lesley J Rogers
- Centre for Neuroscience and Animal Behaviour, School of Science and Technology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
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Sung Y, Lee W, Ng H, Crump ML, Karraker NE. Novel reproductive behavior in an Asian frog: sex‐reversed inguinal amplexus. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yik‐Hei Sung
- Science Unit Lingnan University Tuen Mun Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Wing‐Ho Lee
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences Department of Biology Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Ho‐Nam Ng
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences Department of Biology Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Martha L. Crump
- Department of Biology and the Ecology Center Utah State University Logan Utah84322USA
- Department of Biology Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Arizona86001USA
| | - Nancy E. Karraker
- Department of Natural Resources Science University of Rhode Island Kingston Rhode Island02881USA
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Emmrich M, Vences M, Ernst R, Köhler J, Barej MF, Glaw F, Jansen M, Rödel MO. A guild classification system proposed for anuran advertisement calls. ZOOSYST EVOL 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/zse.96.38770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoologists have widely acknowledged the utility of classification systems for characterising variation in anuran egg and clutch types, tadpole morphotypes, embryonic and tadpole development, amplexus types and reproductive modes. These classification systems have facilitated unambiguous communication between researchers, often working in completely different fields (e.g. taxonomy, ecology, behaviour), as well as comparisons among studies. A syntactic system, classifying anuran call guilds, is so far lacking. Based on examination of the calls of 1253 anuran species we present a simple, easy to use dichotomous key and guild system for classifying anuran advertisement calls – the call type most frequently emitted by anurans and studied by researchers. The use of only three call elements, namely clearly-defined calls, notes, and pulses, plus presence or absence of frequency modulation, allows assigning all currently known anuran advertisement calls to one of eight distinct call guilds defined here. This novel toolkit will facilitate comparative studies across the many thousand anuran species, and may help to unravel drivers of anuran call evolution, and to identify ecological patterns at the level of acoustic communities.
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